Zoom lens and imaging apparatus

1. A zoom lens consisting of six lens groups, which are, in order from the object side to the image side:

a first lens group having a positive refractive power;

a second lens group having a negative refractive power;

a third lens group having a positive refractive power;

a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power;

a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power; and

a sixth lens group having a positive refractive power;

the distances between all pairs of adjacent lens groups changing when changing magnification from the wide angle end to the telephoto end;

the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group being shortest at the wide angle end throughout the entire magnification range; and

Conditional Formula (1) below being satisfied:

−5< f 1/ f 2<−1.5  (1)

wherein f1 is the focal length of the first lens group, and f2 is the focal length of the second lens group; and

wherein the first lens group consists of, in order from the object side to the image side, a positive lens and a cemented lens formed by cementing a negative lens and a positive lens provided in this order from the object side to the image side together.

2. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group is shorter at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

3. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the third lens group is positioned more toward the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end.

4. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , in which Conditional Formula (2) below is satisfied:

0.04< d 1 w/f 1<0.3  (2)

wherein d1w is the distance along the optical axis between the first lens group and the second lens group at the wide angle end.

5. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

focusing operations are performed by moving the fourth lens group in the direction of the optical axis.

6. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

image blurs are corrected by moving the second lens group in a direction having a component perpendicular to the optical axis.

7. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the third lens group has a negative meniscus lens with a concave surface toward the image side as the lens most toward the image side.

8. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the fourth lens group consists of a cemented lens formed by cementing a biconvex lens and a biconcave lens together.

9. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the fourth lens group consists of a single positive meniscus lens with a convex surface toward the object side.

10. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , in which Conditional Formula (1-1) below is satisfied:

−4.8< f 1/ f 2<−2.5  (1-1).

11. A zoom lens as defined in claim 4 , in which Conditional Formula (2-1) below is satisfied:

0.08< d 1 w/f 1<0.2  (2-1).

12. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , in which Conditional Formula (1-2) below is satisfied:

−4.6< f 1/ f 2<−3.0  (1-2).

13. A zoom lens as defined in claim 4 , in which Conditional Formula (2-1) below is satisfied:

0.11< d 1 w/f 1<0.2  (2-2).

14. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the second lens group consists of, in order from the object side to the image side, a biconcave lens in which the absolute value of the radius of curvature of the surface toward the image side is less than the absolute value of the radius of curvature of the surface toward the object side and a cemented lens formed by cementing a biconcave lens and a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface toward the object side, provided in this order from the object side to the image side, together.

15. A zoom lens as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the second lens group consists of, in order from the object side to the image side, a cemented lens formed by cementing a biconcave lens in which the absolute value of the radius of curvature of the surface toward the image side is less than the absolute value of the radius of curvature of the surface toward the object side and a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface toward the object side, provided in this order from the object side to the image side, together, and a negative meniscus lens with a concave surface toward the object side.

16. An imaging apparatus comprising the imaging lens as defined in claim 1 .

17. A zoom lens consisting of six lens groups, which are, in order from the object side to the image side:

a first lens group having a positive refractive power;

a second lens group having a negative refractive power;

a third lens group having a positive refractive power;

a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power;

a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power; and

a sixth lens group having a positive refractive power;

the distances between all pairs of adjacent lens groups changing when changing magnification from the wide angle end to the telephoto end;

the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group being shortest at the wide angle end throughout the entire magnification range; and

Conditional Formula (1) below being satisfied:

−5< f 1/ f 2<−1.5  (1)

wherein f1 is the focal length of the first lens group, and f2 is the focal length of the second lens group; and

wherein the third lens group has a negative meniscus lens with a concave surface toward the image side as the lens most toward the image side.

18. A zoom lens consisting of six lens groups, which are, in order from the object side to the image side:

a first lens group having a positive refractive power;

a second lens group having a negative refractive power;

a third lens group having a positive refractive power;

a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power;

a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power; and

a sixth lens group having a positive refractive power;

the distances between all pairs of adjacent lens groups changing when changing magnification from the wide angle end to the telephoto end;

the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group being shortest at the wide angle end throughout the entire magnification range; and

Conditional Formula (1) below being satisfied:

−5< f 1/ f 2<−1.5  (1)

wherein f1 is the focal length of the first lens group, and f2 is the focal length of the second lens group; and

wherein the fourth lens group consists of a single positive meniscus lens with a convex surface toward the object side.