Abstract: A zoom lens system for directing an optical image on an electric image sensor that includes a first lens unit disposed on a most object side and having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power, and a third lens unit including a most image side lens unit having at least a positive lens element and a negative lens element, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 3<|fl/fw| where fl is a focal length of the most image side lens unit, and fw is a focal length of the zoom lens system in a shortest focal length condition.

Abstract: A taking lens apparatus includes a zoom lens system that is composed of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the distances between the lens units and an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system has, from the object side,: a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit disposed on the image side of the first lens unit and having a negative optical power, a third lens unit disposed on the image side of the second lens unit and having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit disposed on the image side of the third lens unit and having a positive optical power, and a fifth lens unit disposed on the image side of the fourth lens unit and having a positive optical power. During zooming, the first lens unit remains stationary relative to the image sensor, and the second and third lens units move.