An inner focus lens system comprises, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit, an aperture stop, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first lens unit has at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens, the second lens unit has at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens, the third lens unit has at least one negative lens, and the fourth lens unit has at least one positive lens. When focusing on an object at a short distance from an object at infinity, the third lens unit moves to lengthen a distance to the second lens unit and to shorten a distance to the fourth lens unit.