Disclosed herein is a zoom lens formed by arranging a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power in order from an object side to an image side, wherein at a time of varying power from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group is moved and the second lens group is moved to the object side integrally with a diaphragm such that an air interval between the first lens group and the second lens group is decreased and such that an air interval between the second lens group and the third lens group is increased.