Zoom lens system

Claim 2

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least two positive lens elements and at least one negative lens element; a second lens group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of the triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens group and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit are changeable for zooming and the lens system fulfills the following condition: 2.5<f.sub.III /f.sub.II <4.5 wherein f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and third lens unit, respectively.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following condition: 1.0<|f.sub.II /f.sub.I |<1.5 wherein f I represents the focal length of the first lens group.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following conditions: 4.5<D.sub.L /D.sub.S <19.0 D L represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit for the longest focal length; and D S represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit for the shortest focal length.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3, wherein the first mentioned condition is as follows: 2.5<f.sub.III /f.sub.II <4.0

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1, wherein the air space between the first and second lens groups for the shortest focal length is greater than that for the longest focal length and the air space between the second lens groups and third lens unit for the shortest focal length is less than that for the longest focal length.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5, wherein the third lens unit is movable along the optical axis with the first and second lens groups left stationary for focusing.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6, wherein the lens system further fulfills the following conditions: 0.05f.sub.S <D.sub.S <0.25f.sub.S 0.1f.sub.L <D.sub.L <0.5f.sub.L wherein: D S represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit in the infinity focusing for the shortest focal length; D L represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit in the infinity focusing for the longest focal length; f S represents the shortest focal length of the whole lens system; and f L represents the longest focal length of the whole lens system.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 5, wherein the first lens group is movable along the optical axis with the second lens group and third lens units left stationary for focusing in the ordinary object distance range, and wherein the third lens unit is movable toward the object side along the optical axis for macro focusing with the first and second lens groups left stationary in the respective positions for the longest focal length.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1, wherein the third lens unit consists of a positive single lens element.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 1, wherein the third lens unit consists of a doublet formed by cementing a negative lens element to the positive lens element.

Claim 12

A wide angle zoom lens system comprising the following data: ______________________________________ f = 28.5˜35.0˜49.0 F/2.8 2ω = 75°˜62.degr ee.˜48° Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe Curvature Distance Index Number ______________________________________ r.sub.1 88.532 d.sub.1 4.50 N.sub.1 1.60311 ν.sub.1 60.7 r.sub.2 359.143 d.sub.2 0.18 r.sub.3 42.817 d.sub.3 1.40 N.sub.2 1.78850 ν.sub.2 45.7 r.sub.4 18.067 d.sub.4 8.20 r.sub.5 5611.894 d.sub.5 1.20 N.sub.3 1.78831 ν.sub.3 47.3 I r.sub.6 38.764 d.sub.6 3.80 r.sub.7 -852.399 d.sub.7 2.30 N.sub.4 1.71060 ν.sub.4 43.3 r.sub.8 -58.054 d.sub.8 0.80 N.sub.5 1.64050 ν.sub.5 60.1 r.sub.9 210.511 d.sub.9 0.20 r.sub.10 32.986 d.sub.10 3.50 N.sub.6 1.71736 ν.sub.6 29.4 r.sub.11 85.544 d.sub.11 18.58˜10.28˜1.00 r.sub.12 82.430 d.sub.12 2.80 N.sub.7 1.60000 ν.sub.7 64.4 r.sub.13 -124.479 d.sub.13 0.10 r.sub.14 25.134 d.sub.14 3.36 N.sub.8 1.60000 ν.sub.8 64.4 r.sub.15 74.138 d.sub.15 0.10 r.sub.16 29.361 d.sub.16 3.15 N.sub.9 1.72000 ν.sub.9 54.7 II r.sub.17 70.717 d.sub.17 4.00 r.sub.18 -69.099 d.sub.18 2.94 N.sub.10 1.80518 ν.sub.10 25.4 r.sub.19 -28.875 d.sub.19 0.80 N.sub.11 1.75690 ν.sub.11 29.7 r.sub.20 20.097 d.sub.20 3.92 r.sub.21 286.166 d.sub.21 3.85 N.sub.12 1.62280 ν.sub.12 57.0 r.sub.22 -26.711 d.sub.22 1.95˜1.0˜8.86 r.sub.23 53.036 d.sub.23 2.80 N.sub.13 1.48749 ν.sub.13 70.1 III r.sub.24 -78.454 d.sub.24 0.80 N.sub.14 1.63980 ν.sub.14 34.6 r.sub.25 4230.541 ______________________________________

Claim 13

A wide angle zoom lens system comprising the following data: ______________________________________ f = 28.5˜35.0˜49.0 F/2.8 2ω = 75°˜62.degr ee.˜48° Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe Curvature Distance Index Number ______________________________________ r.sub.1 88.532 d.sub.1 4.50 N.sub.1 1.60311 ν.sub.1 60.7 r.sub.2 359.143 d.sub.2 0.18 r.sub.3 42.817 d.sub.3 1.40 N.sub.2 1.78850 ν.sub.2 45.7 r.sub.4 18.067 d.sub.4 8.20 r.sub.5 5611.894 d.sub.5 1.20 N.sub.3 1.78831 ν.sub.3 47.3 I r.sub.6 38.764 d.sub.6 3.80 r.sub.7 -852.399 d.sub.7 2.30 N.sub.4 1.71060 ν.sub.4 43.3 r.sub.8 -58.054 d.sub.8 0.80 N.sub.5 1.64050 ν.sub.5 60.1 r.sub.9 210.511 d.sub.9 0.20 r.sub.10 32.986 d.sub.10 3.50 N.sub.6 1.71736 ν.sub.6 29.4 r.sub.11 85.544 d.sub.11 18.58˜10.28˜1.00 r.sub.12 82.430 d.sub.12 2.80 N.sub.7 1.60000 ν.sub.7 64.4 r.sub.13 -124.479 d.sub.13 0.10 r.sub.14 25.134 d.sub.14 3.36 N.sub.8 1.60000 ν.sub.8 64.4 r.sub.15 74.138 d.sub.15 0.10 r.sub.16 29.361 d.sub.16 3.15 N.sub.9 1.72000 ν.sub.9 54.7 II r.sub.17 70.717 d.sub.17 4.00 r.sub.18 -69.099 d.sub.18 2.94 N.sub.10 1.80518 ν.sub.10 25.4 r.sub.19 -28.875 d.sub.19 0.80 N.sub.11 1.75690 ν.sub.11 29.7 r.sub.20 20.097 d.sub.20 3.92 r.sub.21 286.166 d.sub.21 3.85 N.sub.12 1.62280 ν.sub.12 57.0 r.sub.22 -26.711 d.sub.22 1.95˜1.0˜8.86 r.sub.23 53.036 d.sub.23 2.80 N.sub.13 1.48749 ν.sub.13 70.1 III r.sub.24 -78.454 d.sub.24 0.80 N.sub.14 1.63980 ν.sub.14 34.6 r.sub.25 4230.541 ______________________________________

Claim 14

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; a second group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit being changeable for zooming, wherein the air space between the first and second lens groups for the shortest focal length is greater than that for the longest focal length, and the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit for the shortest focal length is less than that for the longest focal length, wherein the first lens group is movable along the optical axis with the second lens group and the third lens unit left stationary for focusing in the ordinary object distance range, and wherein the third lens unit is movable toward the object side along the optical axis for macrofocusing with the first and second lens groups left stationary in their respective positions for the longest focal length and wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition:

Claim 15

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; a second group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit being changeable for zooming, wherein the air space between the first and second lens groups for the shortest focal length is greater than that for the longest focal length, and the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit for the shortest focal length is less than that for the longest focal length, wherein the first lens group is movable along the optical axis with the second lens group and the third lens unit left stationary for focusing in the ordinary object distance range, and wherein the third lens unit is movable toward the object side along the optical axis for macrofocusing with the first and second lens groups left stationary in their respective positions for the longest focal length and wherein the lens system fulfills the following condition:

Claim 16

5<f III /f II <4.5 wherein f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and the third lens unit, respectively.

Claim 17

5<f III /f II <4.5 wherein f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and the third lens unit, respectively.

Claim 18

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; a second group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power less than that of the second lens group, including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit being changeable for zooming, the lens system fulfills the following condition: 2.5<f.sub.III /f.sub.II <4.5 wherein f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and the third lens unit, respectively.

Claim 19

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; a second group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power less than that of the second lens group, including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit being changeable for zooming, the lens system fulfills the following condition: 2.5<f.sub.III /f.sub.II <4.5 wherein f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and the third lens unit, respectively.

Claim 20

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least two positive lens elements and at least two negative lens elements; a second group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components, and including at least four positive lens elements and at least one negative lens element; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit are changeable for zooming, the lens system fulfills the following conditions:

Claim 21

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least two positive lens elements and at least two negative lens elements; a second group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components, and including at least four positive lens elements and at least one negative lens element; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and third lens unit are changeable for zooming, the lens system fulfills the following conditions:

Claim 22

5<f III /f II <4.0 1.0<|f.sub.II /f.sub.I |<1.5 4.5<D.sub.L /D.sub.S <19.0 wherein: f I , f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the first and second lens group and third lens unit, respectively; D L represents the air space between the second lens group and the third lens unit for the longest focal length; and D S represents the air space between the second lens group and the third lens unit for the shortest focal length.

Claim 23

5<f III /f II <4.0 1.0<|f.sub.II /f.sub.I |<1.5 4.5<D.sub.L /D.sub.S <19.0 wherein: f I , f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the first and second lens group and third lens unit, respectively; D L represents the air space between the second lens group and the third lens unit for the longest focal length; and D S represents the air space between the second lens group and the third lens unit for the shortest focal length.

Claim 24

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; a second lens group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and the third lens unit are changeable for zooming and the third lens unit is movable along the optical axis with the first and second lens groups left stationary for focusing, the lens system fulfills the following conditions: 2.5<f.sub.III /f.sub.II <4.5 0.05f.sub.S <D.sub.S <0.25f.sub.S 0.01f.sub.L <D.sub.L <0.5f.sub.L wherein: f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and third lens unit, respectively; D S represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit in infinity focusing for the shortest focal length; D L represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit in the infinity focusing for the longest focal length; f S represents the shortest focal length of the whole lens system; and f L represents the longest focal length of the whole lens system.

Claim 25

A zoom lens system comprising from the object to the image side: a first lens group of a negative refractive power including at least one positive lens element and at least one negative lens element; a second lens group of a positive refractive power, the second lens group being of a triplet type formed by sandwiching a negative refractive power component in between a pair of positive refractive power components; and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power including at least one positive lens element, wherein an air space between the first and second lens groups and an air space between the second lens group and the third lens unit are changeable for zooming and the third lens unit is movable along the optical axis with the first and second lens groups left stationary for focusing, the lens system fulfills the following conditions: 2.5<f.sub.III /f.sub.II <4.5 0.05f.sub.S <D.sub.S <0.25f.sub.S 0.01f.sub.L <D.sub.L <0.5f.sub.L wherein: f II and f III represent the focal lengths of the second lens group and third lens unit, respectively; D S represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit in infinity focusing for the shortest focal length; D L represents the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit in the infinity focusing for the longest focal length; f S represents the shortest focal length of the whole lens system; and f L represents the longest focal length of the whole lens system.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 15, wherein the last mentioned condition is further limited as follows: 0.11f.sub.L <D.sub.L <0.5f.sub.L

Claim 27

The invention of claim 15, wherein the air space between the first and second lens groups for the shortest focal length is greater than that for the longest focal length and the air space between the second lens group and third lens unit for the shortest focal length is less than that for the longest focal length.