A lens system having, in order from an object, at least a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, and second to fourth lens groups G2 to G4, wherein the first lens group G1 includes a front portion lens group G1a, and a rear portion lens group G1b which is disposed to an image side of the front portion lens group G1a with an air distance therebetween, and performs focusing by shifting the rear portion lens group G1b in the optical axis direction, and the fourth lens group G4 includes, in order from the object, a negative lens and a positive lens (cemented negative lens L41), a negative lens L42, and an aperture stop S, and is fixed in the optical axis direction with respect to an image plane I upon zooming from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state.