The invention provides a zoom optical system comprising at least three lens groups and designed to implement zooming by varying a separation between the respective lens groups. The zoom optical system includes, on an image plane side with respect to a stop, a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses and having positive refracting power throughout. The lens group having positive refracting power includes therein a first lens and a second lens in order from the object side, an image plane side surface of the first lens being convex toward the object side, and an object side surface of the second lens being concave toward the object side.