Compact zoom lens

A compact and inexpensive zoom lens having a variable power ratio of two or greater and reduced total length of the lens system. The compact zoom lens comprises a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power in this order from the object side. The first lens group includes a negative lens component L1 and a positive lens L2 in this order from the object side. The second lens group includes a positive lens component L3, a negative lens L4 and a positive lens L5 positioned in this order from the object side with an air gap between them. When the focal legth of the whole lens system is varied from its wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group is being moved toward the object side from the image side. This zoom lens satisfies the conditions0.7