A zoom optical system including, in order from an object side: a first group having positive power; a second group having negative power; a third group having positive power; and a fourth group having positive power, at least a portion of lenses within said third group composing a movable group which moves in a direction having a component perpendicular to an optical axis, a distance between said first group and said second group, a distance between said second group and said third group and a distance between said third group and said fourth group being variable upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telescopic end state, thereby providing a zoom optical system capable of correcting a camera shake by the movable group with realizing high optical performance, a high zoom ratio, and a small f-number, an optical apparatus equipped therewith, and a method for manufacturing thereof.