To achieve a lowered cost and favorable optical performance in a zoom lens is achieved by a zoom lens which is configured, in order from the object side, from a negative first lens group (G1) and a positive second lens group (G2), and the first lens group (G1) is configured from two lenses: a negative first lens (L11) and a positive second lens (L12). If the focal distance of the first lens group (G1) is f1, the focal distance of the second lens group (G2) is f2, the focal distance of the entire system at the wide end is fw, the spacing along the optical axis between the first lens (L11) and the second lens (L12) is d2, the focal distance of the entire system at the tele end is ft, the d-line refractive index of the second lens (L12) is nd2, and the Abbe number is nd2, the following conditional expressions are satisfied: 1.6 (|f1|/fw (2.5(1); 1.6 (f2/fw (2.4(2); 0.32 (d2/fw (0.60(3); 2.5( ft/fw (4.5(4); 1.56 (nd2 (1.66(5); and vd2 (33(6).