A zoom lens includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power; a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power; and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power. The first lens group G1 comprises only one negative spherical lens (lens L11) and one plastic positive lens (lens L12) separated by an air gap. The second lens group G2 comprises three or fewer lenses, including a positive lens component (cemented lens comprising a lens L21 and a lens L22), and one plastic negative lens (lens L23). The following conditional expressions are satisfied: 0.50