A zoom lens system comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power; and a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group varying upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the first lens group G1 including, in order from the object side, a first lens component having negative refractive power, a second lens component having negative refractive power, a third lens component having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens component having positive refractive power, thereby providing a downsized zoom lens system having excellent optical performance, an optical apparatus equipped therewith and a method for manufacturing the zoom lens system.