A variable power optical system is provided and includes: in order from the object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power and including a negative lens group and a positive lens group; a stop; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power and including a sub-lens group on the most object side, the sub-lens group including a first lens having a positive refractive power having at least one aspherical surface, a second lens having a positive refractive power, and a third lens having a positive refractive power. The second lens group is moved to the object side along an optical axis thereof to perform a variable power operation from a wide angle end to a telephoto end of the variable power optical system, and the first lens group is moved to make a correction of an image plane position in accordance with the variable power operation.