A zoom lens includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, which are disposed in order from an object side. The first lens group has a negative lens and a positive lens having a convex surface at an object side, which are disposed in order from the object side. An interval between the first lens group and the second lens group is increased and an interval between the second lens group and the third lens group is decreased when changing a magnification of the zoom lens from a wide angle end to a telephoto end. The first lens group and the third lens group are moved from positions at the wide angle end toward positions, which are at object sides thereof, at the telephoto end, respectively. Parameters are set so as to successfully correct chromatic aberration while achieving compact size, wide half field angle at the wide angle end, good performance, and a high magnification ratio.