A wide angle zoom lens system in a three lens group N-P-P configuration wherein the first lens group, the second lens group, and the third lens group are arranged in an order from an object side to an image side, and wherein, when variable power operation is performed from a wide angle to a telephoto position, the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is reduced, and the second lens group is moved toward the object side, and the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group is increased, and wherein the zoom lens has a large view angle at the wide angle position.