Abstract: The variable magnification optical system consists of a positive first lens group, an intermediate group, and a subsequent group in order from an object side to an image side, and does not form an intermediate real image in the entire zooming range. During zooming in a first zooming mode, a distance between the first lens group and the intermediate group changes, all distances between adjacent lens groups in the intermediate group change, a distance between the intermediate group and the subsequent group changes, and all distances between adjacent lens groups in the subsequent group are stationary. During zooming in the second zooming mode, all lens groups in the first lens group and the intermediate group are stationary, and all the distances of the adjacent lens groups in the subsequent group change. The zooming in the first zooming mode and the zooming in the second zooming mode can be independent.