Compact zoom lens

Claim 2

A zoom lens comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of positive refractive power for focusing, a second lens unit of negative refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously, a third lens unit of positive refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously in the opposite direction to that of movement of said second lens unit, and a fixed fourth lens unit of positive refractive power having an image forming function, with a diaphragm for varying the F-number being fixedly positioned between said second lens unit and said third lens unit, said zoom lens satisfying the following condition: 0.4<ls/lw<0.75 where lw is the axial separation between said second and said third lens units in the wide angle end of the zooming range, and ls is the axial separation between said second lens unit and said diaphragm in the wide angle end of the zooming range.

Claim 3

A zoom lens according to claim 1, satisfying the following condition: 0.5<|η/ξ|<1.3 where ξ and η are the total zooming movements of said second and said third lens units respectively.

Claim 4

A zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the rays travelling from said third lens unit to said fourth lens unit are convergent at any station of zooming, and said fourth lens unit has a front sub-unit of negative refractive power and a rear sub-unit of positive refractive power, said front sub-unit including at least one negative lens facing its concave surface toward the front, and said rear sub-unit including one negative lens facing its concave surface toward the rear and at least two positive lenses, whereby the following conditions are satisfied: 1.74<|R.sub.1N /f.sub.W |<2.82, R.sub.IN <0 1.28 <R.sub.2N /f.sub.W <2.2 1.69<R.sub.2P /f.sub.W <2.6 0.65<d/f.sub.W <1.42 where R 1N is the radius of curvature of the one of the forwardly concave surfaces in said front sub-unit which is of strongest curvature, R 2N is the radius of curfature of the one of the rearwardly concave surfaces in said rear sub-unit which is of strongest curvature, R 2P is the radius of curvature of the one of the forwardly convex surfaces of the positive lenses on the image side of said negative lens in said rear sub-unit which is of strongest curvature, d is the air separation between said front sub-unit and said rear sub-unit, and f W is the shortest focal length of the entire system.

Claim 5

A zoom lens comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of positive refractive power for focusing, a second lens unit of negative refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously, a third lens unit of positive refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously in the opposite direction to that of movement of said second lens unit, and a fixed fourth lens unit of positive refractive power having an image forming function, with a diaphragm for varying the F-number being fixedly positioned between said second lens unit and said third lens unit, said zoom lens satisfying the following condition: 1<|f.sub.3 /f.sub.2 |<3 where f 2 and f 3 are the focal lengths of the second and third lens units respectively.

Claim 6

A zoom lens comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of positive refractive power for focusing, a second lens unit of negative refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously, a third lens unit of positive refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously in the opposite direction to that of movement of said second lens unit, and a fixed fourth lens unit of positive refractive power having an image forming function, with a diaphragm for varying the F-number being fixedly positioned between said second lens unit and said third lens unit, said zoom lens satisfying the following condition: 1<|f.sub.3 /f.sub.2 |<3 where f 2 and f 3 are the focal lengths of the second and third lens units respectively.

Claim 7

A zoom lens comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of positive refractive power for focusing, a second lens unit of negative refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously, a third lens unit of positive refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously in the opposite direction to that of movement of said second lens unit, and a fixed fourth lens unit of positive refractive power having an image forming function, with a diaphragm for varying the F-number being fixedly positioned between said second lens unit and said third lens unit, wherein said fourth lens unit is constructed from a front sub-unit of negative refractive power, and a rear sub-unit of positive refractive power.

Claim 8

A zoom lens comprising, from front to rear, a first lens unit of positive refractive power for focusing, a second lens unit of negative refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously, a third lens unit of positive refractive power which, when zooming, moves monotonously in the opposite direction to that of movement of said second lens unit, and a fixed fourth lens unit of positive refractive power having an image forming function, with a diaphragm for varying the F-number being fixedly positioned between said second lens unit and said third lens unit, wherein said fourth lens unit is constructed from a front sub-unit of negative refractive power, and a rear sub-unit of positive refractive power.

Claim 9

A zoom lens according to claim 5, satisfying the following condition: 1.3<|f.sub.4-1 /f.sub.4-2 |<8.0 where f 4-1 and f 4-2 are the focal lengths of said front and said rear sub-units.

Claim 10

A zoom lens according to claim 6, wherein said front sub-unit includes at least one negative lens facing its concave surface toward the front, and said rear sub-unit includes one negative lens facing its concave surface toward the rear and at least two positive lenses.