JP6369738B2 - Zoom lens, camera, and portable information terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a zoom lens, and more particularly, a zoom lens having a diffractive surface, a camera having such a zoom lens as a photographing optical system, and portable information having such a zoom lens as a photographing optical system of a camera function unit. The present invention relates to a terminal device.

The market for cameras used for security and the like has become large and demands are diverse. Among them, high image quality and high zoom ratio are always desired by users and have a large weight. Therefore, a zoom lens used as a photographing lens is also required to have both high performance and high zoom ratio.
Here, in terms of high performance, it is necessary to have at least a resolving power corresponding to an imaging element of 1 to 5 million pixels over the entire zoom range. Further, it is considered that a magnification change of about 16 times is necessary for high magnification change.
In addition, it is desired that aberrations are sufficiently corrected even in the near-infrared wavelength region so that photographing can be performed even in a dark state.
In addition, widening the angle of view is also desired, and the half angle of view at the short focal point of the zoom lens is desirably 25 degrees or more.
Further, a large aperture is also desired, and it is desirable that the F number at the short focal end (sometimes referred to as “wide angle”) is 2.0 or less.

In order from the object side to the image side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a positive refraction. As a conventional example of a zoom lens having a fourth lens group having power and the first lens group having a diffractive surface, Patent Document 1 (JP 2008-197534 A) and Patent Document 2 (JP 2003-287678 A). No.), Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-221402), and the like.
The zoom lenses disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are used in a large number of 20 or more, constituting a lens, which is not reduced in weight, large in size, and high in cost. is there.
The zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a large F number of about 4.0 and a zoom ratio of about 6 times.
In any of Patent Documents 1 to 3, no consideration is given to aberration correction in the near infrared region.

As described above, the configuration disclosed in any one of Patent Documents 1 to 3 also achieves a high zoom ratio, a high angle of view and a small size, and an F number at the short focal end of 2.0 or less. In particular, it does not sufficiently satisfy the user's request that there are few aberrations in the near infrared region.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a zoom lens that can achieve a high angle of view and a small size with a high zoom ratio and that has few aberrations.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has a zoom ratio of about 16 times, a half angle of view at the short focus end of about 30 degrees, and an F number at the short focus end of 2.0 or less. The F number at the long focal end is about 2.0, the number of lenses is about 15 to 16, and it is relatively inexpensive, the aberration is sufficiently corrected even in the near-infrared wavelength region, and is small and 100 An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens having a resolving power corresponding to an image sensor with 10,000 to 5,000,000 pixels.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the zoom lens according to the present invention provides
In order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens having a positive refractive power The first lens group is fixed, the second lens group is moved to the image side, the third lens group is moved, and the zoom lens is changed upon zooming from the short focus end to the long focus end. In the zoom lens in which the fourth lens group is fixed, the fourth lens group is arranged in order from the object side to the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group, and in order from the object side, the positive lens L4a1, the positive lens L4a2, and the positive lens. L4a3, negative lens L4a4, has a first 4a lens group is a positive lens L4a5, the image side, in order from the object side, a negative lens L4b1, having first 4b lens group is a positive lens L4b2, the first 4a lens group Is the following conditional expression (1 , (2) it is characterized by satisfying the (3) has a positive lens that satisfies the first lens group has a diffractive surface, the following conditional expression (4).
_{1.40 <n d <1.65 (1} )
65.0 <ν _d <100.0 (2)
0.015 <P _{g, F} − (− 0.001802 × ν _d +0.6483) <0.060 (3)
50 <fdoe / f1 <200 (4)
Where n _d is the refractive index of the positive lens, ν _d is the Abbe number of the positive lens, P _{g and F} are the partial dispersion ratios of the positive lens, and f doe is the focal length of the diffractive surface. , F1 is the focal length of the first lens group.
_{Here, P g, F = (n} g -n F) a _{/ (n F -n c),} n g, n F, n c is, g line respectively positive lens L13, F line, for c-line Refractive index.

According to the present invention,
In order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens having a positive refractive power The first lens group is fixed, the second lens group is moved to the image side, the third lens group is moved, and the zoom lens is changed upon zooming from the short focus end to the long focus end. In the zoom lens in which the fourth lens group is fixed, the fourth lens group is arranged in order from the object side to the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group, and in order from the object side, the positive lens L4a1, the positive lens L4a2, and the positive lens. L4a3, negative lens L4a4 has a first 4a lens group is a positive lens L4a5, the image side, in order from the object side has a negative lens L4b1, the 4b lens of a positive lens L4b2,
The refractive index of the positive lens is n _d , the Abbe number of the positive lens is ν _d , the partial dispersion ratio of the positive lens is P _{g, F} , the focal length of the diffraction surface is f doe, and the first lens the focal length of the group and f1, the positive lens for g line, F-line, the refractive index each _n g of _c-line, n F, and _{n c,} the partial dispersion ratio _{P g,} the _F,
As P _{g, F} = (n _g -n _F ) / (n _F -n _C ),
The 4a lens group includes the following conditional expressions (1), (2), (3):
_{1.40 <n d <1.65 (1} )
65.0 <ν _d <100.0 (2)
0.015 <P _{g, F} − (− 0.001802 × ν _d +0.6483) <0.060 (3)
Satisfied,
The first lens group has a diffractive surface;
The following conditional expression (4):
50 <fdoe / f1 <200 (4)
By satisfying the above, the short focus end F number is 2.0 or less and the long focus end F number is 2.0 or less while the half angle of view at the short focus end is about 30 degrees with a zoom ratio of about 16 times. The number of components is about 15 to 16 and is relatively inexpensive, the aberration is sufficiently corrected even in the near-infrared wavelength region, and the resolving power corresponding to a small image sensor with 1 to 5 million pixels is achieved. A zoom lens can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows typically the zoom locus | trajectory accompanying the structure of the optical system of the zoom lens and zooming in Example (Numerical example. The same hereafter) 1 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the optical axis at the short focal end (wide angle end), (b) at the intermediate focal length, and (c) at the long focal end (telephoto end). FIG. 3 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the short focal end (wide angle end) of the zoom lens according to Example 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the intermediate focal length of the zoom lens according to Example 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the long focal end (telephoto end) of the zoom lens according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the optical system of the zoom lens in Example 2 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and the zoom locus | trajectory accompanying zooming, (a) is a short focus end, (b) is an intermediate | middle. The focal length and (c) are cross-sectional views along the optical axis at each of the long focal ends. FIG. 6 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion aberration and coma aberration at the short focal point of the zoom lens according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the intermediate focal length of the zoom lens according to Example 2 of the present invention shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the long focal end of the zoom lens according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention shown in FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the optical system of the zoom lens in Example 3 which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and the zoom locus | trajectory accompanying zooming, (a) is a short focus end, (b) is an intermediate | middle. The focal length and (c) are cross-sectional views along the optical axis at each of the long focal ends. FIG. 10 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the short focal point of the zoom lens according to Example 3 illustrated in FIG. 9; FIG. 10 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the intermediate focal length of the zoom lens according to Example 3 illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the long focal end of the zoom lens according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention shown in FIG. 9; FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an optical system of a zoom lens and a zoom locus accompanying zooming in Example 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a short focal end, and (b) is an intermediate. The focal length and (c) are cross-sectional views along the optical axis at each of the long focal ends. FIG. 14 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion aberration and coma aberration at the short focal point of the zoom lens according to Example 4 shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the intermediate focal length of the zoom lens according to Example 4 illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is an aberration curve diagram showing spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion and coma aberration at the long focal end of the zoom lens according to Example 4 shown in FIG. 13; It is a perspective view which shows typically the external appearance structure seen from the object side of the digital camera as a camera which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which shows typically the external appearance structure which looked at the digital camera of FIG. 17 from the photographer side. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the digital camera of FIG. 17 and FIG.

Hereinafter, based on an embodiment of the present invention, a zoom lens, a camera, and a portable information terminal device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Before describing specific examples, first, a fundamental embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present invention, in order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a positive refractive power. And a fourth lens group having the same. In other words, a zoom lens composed of four lens groups of positive-negative-negative-positive is configured as a so-called variator in which the second lens group bears a main zooming action.
When zooming from the short focal end to the long focal end, the first lens unit is fixed, the second lens unit is moved to the image side, the third lens unit is moved, and the fourth lens unit is fixed. The distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is increased, and the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group is decreased.
In addition, it is desirable to use a diffractive surface in order to correct chromatic aberration in the near infrared wavelength region. Using a diffractive surface for the first lens group is very effective in correcting longitudinal chromatic aberration at the long focal end. In order to correct the longitudinal chromatic aberration at the long focal end, it is desirable to satisfy the following conditions.

First, when an axial chromatic aberration at the long focal end is to be corrected by a lens, an anomalous dispersion optical material is often used for the first lens group. For this reason, the number of lenses in the first lens group increases, leading to an increase in size. In addition, anomalous dispersion optical material has a large refractive index change and a linear expansion coefficient due to temperature, and if it is used in large numbers, there arises a new problem that the temperature change greatly affects the performance of the long focal end.
The axial chromatic aberration at the short focal point cannot be corrected only by using the diffractive surface for the first lens group. In a zoom lens having a large aperture as in the present invention, it is necessary to sufficiently correct axial chromatic aberration at the short focal end. Therefore, it is preferable to use an optical material that satisfies the following conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) for the later-described 4a lens group that passes through a high position of the axial marginal ray even at the short focal end. It is an optical material having so-called anomalous dispersion, and can sufficiently correct axial chromatic aberration at the short focal end.
That is, the zoom lens further has the following characteristics.
First, in the fourth lens group, the 4a lens group is disposed on the object side and the 4b lens group is disposed on the image side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group.

The refractive index of the positive lens included in the first 4a lens group and n _d, Abbe number of the positive lens is [nu _d, and a partial dispersion ratio of the positive lens P _g, and _F, the focal length of the diffractive surface and fDOE, wherein the focal length of the fourth lens group and f1, the positive lens for g line, F-line, the refractive index, respectively _n g to c _line, n F, and _{n c,} the partial dispersion ratio of the positive lens _{P g, F} The
As P _{g, F} = (n _g -n _F ) / (n _F -n _C ),
In the first lens group, the positive lens is
The following conditional expressions (1), (2), (3):
_{1.40 <n d <1.65 (1} )
65.0 <ν _d <100.0 (2)
0.015 <P _{g, F} − (− 0.001802 × ν _d +0.6483) <0.060 (3)
And any one of the lens surfaces of the first lens group has a diffractive surface,
The following conditional expression (4):
50 <fdoe / f1 <200 (4)
It was desired to satisfy.

The focal length f of the diffractive surface is
It is represented by f = −1 / (2 × C2). Here, C2 is a coefficient of the quadratic term of the phase function.
By satisfying conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3), the axial chromatic aberration at the short focal end can be sufficiently corrected.
If the lower limit value of conditional expression (1) is not reached, the correction of monochromatic aberration is insufficient. If the lower limit value of conditional expression (2) is not reached, correction of chromatic aberration is insufficient. If the lower limit value of (3) is not reached, chromatic aberration is corrected. The correction of the secondary spectrum is insufficient. On the other hand, there is no optical material that exceeds the upper limit for all conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3), or even if it exists, it is very special and expensive, and is not practical.
On the other hand, when the conditional expression (4) is satisfied, the longitudinal chromatic aberration at the long focal end can be sufficiently corrected. If the upper limit of conditional expression (4) is exceeded, the longitudinal chromatic aberration correction at the long focal point by the diffraction surface becomes too small, and sufficient chromatic aberration correction cannot be performed. If the lower limit value of the conditional expression (4) is not reached, the longitudinal chromatic aberration correction of the long focal point by the diffraction surface will be overcorrected, the diffraction pitch will be too small, and processing will be difficult, or a large flare will occur. Will lead to.

More preferably, the following conditional expression (4 ′) should be satisfied.
100 <fdoe / f1 <150 (4 ′)
In order to achieve higher performance, the following conditional expression (4 ″) should be satisfied.

50 <fdoe / ft <150 (4 ″)
When the conditional expression (4 ′) is satisfied, the longitudinal chromatic aberration at the long focal end can be sufficiently corrected.
Positive lens that satisfies a condition 1 in the first 4a lens group, not to want to be two.
Necessary for correcting the longitudinal chromatic aberration by using a lens satisfying the condition 1, that is, the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3), in the 4a lens group. However, optical materials that satisfy the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) have a large refractive index change and a linear expansion coefficient due to temperature. Therefore, in order to achieve both the longitudinal chromatic aberration and the effect of temperature on the performance, it is preferable to use two positive lenses that satisfy the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) in the 4a lens group.

The first lens group includes a negative lens L11, a positive lens L12, and a positive lens L13 from the object side, and the positive lens L13 of the first lens group includes the conditional expressions (1), (2), (3 ) May be satisfied.
For better performance, the you and satisfies the following conditional expression (5).
0.20 <Da / D4 <0.35 (5)
However, D4 is the thickness of the 4th lens group, and Da is the air space between the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group.
The exchange of aberrations is large between the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group, and it is desirable to ensure a relatively large distance in the fourth lens group within a range that satisfies the conditional expression.
If the lower limit value of the conditional expression (5) is not reached, the distance between the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group becomes too small, the aberration correction between the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group becomes large, and the aberration correction is performed. It becomes difficult. If the upper limit of conditional expression (5) is exceeded, the distance between the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group becomes too large, the thickness of the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group becomes too small, and aberration correction is performed. It becomes difficult.

While the chromatic aberration sufficiently corrected, in order to high performance, it has good to satisfy the following conditional expression (6).
1.0 <f4p / f4 <3.0 (6)
Here, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, and f4p is the focal length of the positive lens that satisfies the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) in the 4a lens group.
If the upper limit is exceeded, the focal length of the positive lens that satisfies the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) becomes too large, and the effect of anomalous dispersion cannot be obtained sufficiently. It cannot be corrected sufficiently. If the lower limit of conditional expression (6) is not reached, the focal length of the positive lens that satisfies conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) becomes too short, and it becomes difficult to correct monochromatic aberration.
The 4a lens group includes a positive lens L4a1, a positive lens L4a2, a positive lens L4a3, a negative lens L4a4, and a positive lens L4a5 from the object side, and the fourth b lens group includes a negative lens L4b1 and a positive lens L4b2 from the object side. not good.

  In the 4a lens group, since the on-axis marginal ray passes through a high position, the lens configuration is important in a large aperture lens. Therefore, by having the above configuration, spherical aberration and coma aberration can be sufficiently corrected as a whole.

To performance in of et, it may satisfy the following conditional expression (8).
0.2 <D4b / D4a <0.5 (8)
However, D4a is the thickness of the 4a lens group, and D4b is the thickness of the 4b lens group.

If the upper limit is exceeded, the 4a lens group becomes too thin, and it becomes difficult to correct aberrations in the 4a lens group passing through a position where the on-axis marginal ray is high. If the lower limit value of conditional expression (8) is not reached, the 4b lens group becomes too thin, and it becomes difficult to set the exit pupil distance appropriately while correcting the aberration remaining in the 4a lens group.
Desirably, the following conditional expression (8) should be satisfied.
0.25 <D4b / D4a <0.35 (8 ')
To achieve a more zoom range overall performance is not to wish to satisfy the following condition (9).
0.10 <f4 / ft <0.25 (9)
Here, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, and ft is the focal length of the entire system at the long focal end.
When the fourth lens group satisfies the conditional expression (9), the entire zoom range is balanced, and aberration correction of the entire zoom range can be achieved.
When it is necessary to reduce the amount of light that reaches the image plane, the aperture diameter may be reduced. However, if the amount of light is reduced by an ND filter or the like without greatly changing the aperture diameter, the resolving power decreases due to the diffraction phenomenon. Is preferable in that it can be prevented.

The focusing is preferably performed by the first lens group. When focusing with the first lens group, there is an advantage that the position of the first lens group as the focus group is the same in any zoom range. In the case of video shooting, there is a merit that there is no need to refocus when zooming.
It is desirable to use a laminated diffractive optical element for the diffractive surface. By laminating optical elements each having an appropriate refractive index difference at each wavelength, it is possible to increase the diffraction efficiency in a wide wavelength range.
Further, the laminated optical element may be in close contact with the lens surface. Further, by making the cemented surface of the lens a diffractive structure, the lens can be made robust enough to withstand the influence (disturbance) of the environment on the diffractive surface.
On the other hand, a camera such as a so-called digital camera or a camera for moving image shooting (so-called movie camera) can be configured by using the zoom lens according to the present invention as a shooting optical system or a moving image shooting optical system. The

By providing the zoom lens as described above as a photographing optical system, such a camera realizes a camera having a zooming area that is small and has high image quality and sufficiently covers a normal photographing area. Can do.
Also it has an imaging function of the camera function and the like, as an imaging optical system in a so-called personal digital assistant device, Ru can also be configured using a zoom lens as described above.
Such a portable information terminal device has a photographing function, and includes a zoom lens as described above as a photographing optical system, so that it is small in size and high in image quality and sufficiently covers a normal photographing region. A portable information terminal device having a zone can be provided. For this reason, the user can take a high-quality image with a portable information terminal device excellent in portability and transmit the image to the outside.
As described above, according to the present invention, the short angle end F-number is 2.0 or less and the long focus end has a zoom ratio of about 16 times and the short field end half angle of view is about 30 degrees. The F number is about 2.0, the number of components is about 15 to 16, and it is relatively inexpensive. The aberration is sufficiently corrected even in the near-infrared wavelength range, and it is small and has a size of 1 to 5 million pixels. A zoom lens having a resolving power corresponding to the image sensor can be provided.

Further, by applying the present invention, the following various effects can be obtained. It is possible to provide a high-performance zoom lens that corrects chromatic aberration well while suppressing the effect on performance due to temperature changes. Can be obtained.
Since it is possible to provide a high-performance zoom lens in which each aberration is corrected more favorably, it is possible to realize a high-quality camera having higher resolution.
More satisfactorily correct the color aberration, it is possible to provide a high-performance zoom lens, further suppressed like color blur over the entire screen, it is possible to realize a camera capable of obtaining a good depiction.
Although the zoom ratio is about 16 times and the half angle of view at the short focus end is about 30 degrees, the F number at the short focus end is about 2.0 or less and the F number at the long focus end is about 2.0. Is a relatively low-priced lens having a resolution of 15 to 16 and a sufficiently small aberration in the near-infrared wavelength region, and a small zoom lens having a resolving power corresponding to a 1 to 5 million pixel imaging device. Since a small and high-quality camera used as a system can be provided, a user can take a high-quality image with a camera having excellent portability.

The short focus end F number is about 2.0 or less and the long focus end F number is about 2.0 with a zoom ratio of about 16 times and a short field angle of about 30 degrees. Near-infrared wavelength using a zoom lens having a resolution of about 15 to 16 and relatively inexpensive, having a resolution corresponding to an image sensor with 1 million to 5 million pixels, as the imaging optical system of the camera function unit A camera capable of capturing a moving image with a small size and high image quality with aberrations sufficiently corrected even in the area can be provided. Therefore, the user can shoot a high-quality moving image with a camera having excellent portability.
In addition , the short focus end F number is about 2.0 or less and the long focus end F number is about 2.0 while the short angle end half angle of view is about 30 degrees with a zoom ratio of about 16 times. A zoom lens having a resolving power corresponding to an image sensor with a small size of 1 to 5 million pixels, which is relatively inexpensive with a number of components of about 15 to 16 and is sufficiently inexpensive, even in the near-infrared wavelength region. Can be provided as a photographing optical system of a camera function unit, and a small and high-quality portable information terminal device can be provided. Therefore, the user can shoot a high-quality moving image or still image with a portable information terminal device excellent in portability.

Next, specific examples based on the above-described principle embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Examples 1 to 4 described below are examples of specific configurations according to numerical examples (numerical examples) of the zoom lens according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention. . 1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining a zoom lens in Example 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 8 are diagrams for explaining a zoom lens in Example 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9-12 is for demonstrating the zoom lens in Example 3 which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIGS. 13 to 16 are for explaining a zoom lens in Example 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In each of the zoom lenses of Examples 1 to 4, the first lens group having a positive refractive power, the second lens group having a negative refractive power, and the first lens having a negative refractive power are sequentially arranged from the object side. The zoom lens has a so-called positive-negative-negative-positive four-group configuration in which three lens groups and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power are arranged.

In the zoom lenses according to the first to fourth embodiments, the optical element formed of a parallel plate disposed on the image plane side of the fourth lens group includes various optical filters such as an optical low-pass filter and an ultraviolet cut filter. , Assuming a cover glass (seal glass) of a light receiving image pickup device such as a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor. Here, as an equivalent transparent parallel plate , And so on.
Further, the parallel plate arranged on the object side or the image side of the stop AD assumes various filters F such as ND filters.
Moreover, the glass material of the optical glass used in each Example of Example 1-Example 4 is shown by the optical glass type name of the product of OHARA Co., Ltd. (OHARA) and HOYA Corporation (HOYA).
In all the embodiments, the lens material is optical glass, but a resin lens may be used.
Aberrations in the zoom lenses of Examples 1 to 4 are sufficiently corrected, and can correspond to light receiving elements having 1 million to 5 million pixels or more. . Example 1 is that the zoom lens is configured according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, and a very good image performance can be secured while achieving a sufficiently small size. -It is clear from each Example of Example 4.

The meanings of symbols common to the first to fourth embodiments are as follows.
f: Focal length of the entire optical system F: F value (F number)
ω: Half angle of view (degrees)
R: radius of curvature D: spacing between surfaces n _d : refractive index ν _d : Abbe number C2: coefficient of second-order term of phase relationship C4: coefficient of fourth-order term of phase relationship Cd: shape of diffraction grating, reference wavelength (d-line) as λd , The distance from the optical axis is h, the phase is φ (h),
φ (h) = (2π / λd) (C2 · h ² + C4 · h ⁴ )

FIG. 1 shows the lens configuration of the optical system of the zoom lens of Example 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the short focal point, that is, the long focal point, that is, the telephoto end through a predetermined intermediate focal length from the wide angle end. FIG. 4A shows a zoom trajectory associated with zooming, wherein (a) is a cross-sectional view at the short focal end, that is, a wide-angle end, (b) is a cross-sectional view at a predetermined intermediate focal length, and (c) is a long focal end, It is sectional drawing in a telephoto end. In FIG. 1 showing the lens group arrangement of Example 1, the left side in the figure is the object (subject) side.
The zoom lens shown in FIG. 1 includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. G3 and a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refractive power are arranged.
In the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a is disposed closer to the object side than the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4, and the 4b lens group G4b is disposed on the image side.
The first lens group G1 to the fourth lens group G4 are each supported by a common support frame or the like that is appropriate for each group. For zooming or the like, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are integrated with each other. The diaphragm AD is provided integrally with the fourth lens group G4. FIG. 1 also shows the surface numbers of the optical surfaces. 1 are used independently for each embodiment in order to avoid complication of explanation due to an increase in the number of digits of the reference code. Therefore, even if the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the other embodiments are attached, they are not necessarily the same configuration as the other embodiments.

During zooming from the short focal end (wide angle end) to the long focal end (telephoto end), the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group G3 moves, and the fourth lens group G4 is fixed. Thereby, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased.
1 is a first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and the first lens group G1 of the zoom lens of Example 1 (numerical example; the same applies hereinafter) has a concave surface in order from the object side to the image surface side. A negative lens L11 composed of a negative meniscus lens toward the surface, a positive lens L12 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side on the object side, and a positive lens composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed to the object side L13 is arranged.
A laminated diffractive optical element is closely attached to the lens surface of the first lens group G1, in this case, the cemented surface.
Then, the two lenses of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12 of the first lens group G1 are intimately bonded to each other and integrally joined to form two cemented lenses.

The second lens group G2 includes, in order from the object side, a negative lens L21 made of a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface facing the image surface side, and a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the object side surface directed to the image surface side. A negative lens L22 and a positive lens L23 made of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side are arranged.
The third lens group G3 includes a negative lens L31 formed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side on the object side, and a positive lens L32 formed of a plano-convex lens having a convex surface directed to the object side. .
The two lenses of the negative lens L31 and the positive lens L32 of the third lens group G3 are in close contact with each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, a diaphragm AD and various filters F such as an ND filter made of a parallel plate adjacent to the diaphragm AD are inserted, and the fourth lens group G4 and It is held together.
Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a disposed on the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A positive lens L4a2 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface with a larger curvature than the object side surface on the image surface side, and a biconvex lens with a convex surface having a larger curvature on the image surface side than the object side surface A positive lens L4a3, a negative lens L4a4 composed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the image side surface, and a positive lens L4a5 composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side. doing.

The positive lens L4a3 and the negative lens L4a4 of the fourth-a lens group G4a are closely bonded to each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4b lens group G4b disposed on the image plane side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 is a negative meniscus having a concave surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A negative lens L4b1 made of a lens and a positive lens L4b2 made of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side are disposed on the object side.
In addition, on the image surface side of the 4a lens group G4a, various optical filters such as an optical low-pass filter and an infrared cut filter, and a cover glass (seal glass) of a light-receiving imaging element such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor are assumed. Is. Here, an FG such as a filter represented as an equivalent transparent parallel plate is disposed.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, at the time of zooming from the short focal end to the long focal end, the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group G3. Since the fourth lens group G4 is fixed, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased.

Focusing is preferably performed by the first lens group G1.
The reason is that, when focusing with the first lens group, there is a merit that the position of the first lens group as the focus group is the same in any zoom range.
In Example 1, the focal length f, the F number F, and the half angle of view ω of the entire optical system are f = 7.72 to 30.00 to 116.116 by zooming from the short focal point to the long focal point, respectively. 43, F = 1.64 to 1.64 to 1.92 and ω = 32.64 to 8.59 to 2.24. The optical characteristics of each optical element are as shown in Table 1 below.

この実施例１においては、全光学系の焦点距離ｆ、Ｆ値、半画角ω、第１レンズ群Ｇ１と第２レンズ群Ｇ２との間の可変間隔ＤＡ、第２レンズ群Ｇ２と第３レンズ群Ｇ３との間の可変間隔ＤＢ、そして第３レンズ群Ｇ３とフィルタ等Ｆとの間の可変間隔ＤＣ等の可変量は、ズーミングに伴って次表２のように変化する。

In Example 1, the focal length f, the F value, the half angle of view ω of the entire optical system, the variable distance DA between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G2. The variable amount DB such as the variable distance DB between the lens group G3 and the variable distance DC between the third lens group G3 and the filter F and the like changes as shown in Table 2 along with zooming.

回折面の焦点距離ｆｄｏｅは、位相関数の２次項の係数をＣ２とし、位相関数の４次項の係数をＣ４として、
ｆｄｏｅ＝−１（２×Ｃ２）
で表されるが、この実施例１においては、第２面、即ち、負レンズＬ１１と正レンズＬ１２との接合面に形成される回折面の位相関数の２次項の係数Ｃ２は、以下の表３に記載の通りである。尚、位相関数の４次項の係数Ｃ４も併記する。

The focal length fdoe of the diffractive surface is expressed by assuming that the coefficient of the second order term of the phase function is C2 and the coefficient of the fourth order term of the phase function is C4.
fdoe = −1 (2 × C2)
In the first embodiment, the coefficient C2 of the second-order term of the phase function of the diffractive surface formed on the second surface, that is, the cemented surface of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12, is expressed by the following table. 3 as described. The coefficient C4 of the fourth order term of the phase function is also shown.

尚、回折格子の形状は、上述したように、基準波長（ｄ線）をλｄ、光軸からの距離をｈ、位相をφ（ｈ）として、
φ（ｈ）＝２π／λｄ（Ｃ２・ｈ^２＋Ｃ４・ｈ^４）と表される。
この実施例１の場合、上記条件式（１）〜条件式（９）に対応する値は、次表４の通りとなり、それぞれ条件式（１）〜（９）を満足している。特に、第４ａレンズ群Ｇ４ａのうち、正レンズＬ４ａ２と正レンズＬ４ａ３は、条件式（１）、（２）、（３）および条件式（６）を共に満足している。

The shape of the diffraction grating is as described above, where the reference wavelength (d-line) is λd, the distance from the optical axis is h, and the phase is φ (h).
φ (h) = 2π / λd (C2 · h ² + C4 · h ⁴ ).
In the case of Example 1, values corresponding to the conditional expressions (1) to (9) are as shown in Table 4 below, which satisfy the conditional expressions (1) to (9), respectively. In particular, in the 4a lens group G4a, the positive lens L4a2 and the positive lens L4a3 satisfy both the conditional expressions (1), (2), (3) and the conditional expression (6).

2, 3, and 4 show spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and coma at the short focal end (wide angle end), the intermediate focal length, and the long focal end (telephoto end) of Example 1, respectively. Each aberration diagram of the aberration is shown. In these aberration diagrams, the broken line in the spherical aberration diagram represents the sine condition, the solid line in the astigmatism diagram represents sagittal, and the broken line represents meridional. The same applies to the aberration diagrams of the other examples.
As is apparent from FIGS. 2 to 4, the aberration is sufficiently corrected in the zoom lens of Example 1. It is possible to deal with light receiving elements with 1 to 5 million pixels, and by constructing a zoom lens as in Example 1, it is possible to achieve very good image performance while achieving sufficient size reduction. It is clear that it can be secured.

FIG. 5 shows the lens configuration of the optical system of the zoom lens of Example 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the short focal point, that is, the long focal point, that is, the telephoto end after passing through a predetermined intermediate focal length from the wide angle end. The zoom locus | trajectory accompanying zooming to is shown. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view at the short focus end, that is, at the wide angle end. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view at a predetermined intermediate focal length. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view at the long focal end, that is, the telephoto end. In FIG. 5 showing the lens group arrangement of Example 2, the left side in the figure is the object (subject) side.
The zoom lens shown in FIG. 5 includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. G3 and a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refractive power are arranged.
In the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a is disposed closer to the object side than the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4, and the 4b lens group G4b is disposed on the image side.
The first lens group G1 to the fourth lens group G4 are each supported by a common support frame or the like that is appropriate for each group. During zooming, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are provided for each group. The diaphragm AD operates integrally, and the diaphragm AD is provided integrally with the fourth lens group G4. FIG. 5 also shows the surface numbers of the optical surfaces. Note that each reference symbol in FIG. 5 is used independently for each embodiment in order to avoid complication of explanation due to an increase in the number of digits of the reference symbol. Therefore, even if the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the other embodiments are attached, they are not necessarily the same configuration as the other embodiments.

During zooming from the short focal end (wide angle end) to the long focal end (telephoto end), the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group Since G3 moves and the fourth lens group G4 is fixed, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are separated from each other. Move so that the interval is smaller.
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the first lens group G1 of the zoom lens of Example 2 (numerical example; the same applies hereinafter) has concave surfaces on the image plane side in order from the object side. A negative lens L11 composed of a negative meniscus lens toward the surface, a positive lens L12 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side on the object side, and a positive lens composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed to the object side L13 is arranged.
A laminated diffractive optical element is closely attached to the lens surface of the first lens group G1, in this case, the cemented surface.
Then, the two lenses of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12 of the first lens group G1 are intimately bonded to each other and integrally joined to form two cemented lenses.

The second lens group G2, in order from the object side, has a negative lens L21 composed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the object side on the image side, and a concave surface having a larger curvature than the object side surface on the image surface side. A negative lens L22 made of a biconcave lens, a positive lens L23 made of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the image surface side, and a negative lens L24 made of a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface directed to the object side are disposed. The two lenses of the second lens group G2, the positive lens L23 and the negative lens L24, are closely bonded to each other and are integrally joined to form two cemented lenses.
The third lens group G3 includes a negative lens L31 made of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the surface on the image side, and a positive lens L32 made of a plano-convex lens having a convex surface facing the object side. ing.
The two lenses of the negative lens L31 and the positive lens L32 of the third lens group G3 are in close contact with each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, a diaphragm AD and various filters F such as an ND filter made of a parallel plate adjacent to the diaphragm AD are inserted, and the fourth lens group G4 and It is held together.

Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a arranged on the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 has a curvature from the object side surface to the image surface side in order from the object side. A positive lens L4a1 composed of a biconvex lens having a large convex surface, a positive lens L4a2 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature on the image surface side than the object side surface, and a curvature from the object side surface on the image surface side. From a positive lens L4a3 composed of a biconvex lens having a large convex surface, a negative lens L4a4 composed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the surface on the image side toward the object side, and a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side A positive lens L4a5 is arranged.
The positive lens L4a3 and the negative lens L4a4 of the fourth-a lens group G4a are closely bonded to each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4b lens group G4b disposed on the image plane side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 is a negative meniscus having a concave surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A negative lens L4b1 composed of a lens and a positive lens L4b2 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the object-side surface are disposed on the image surface side.
In addition, on the image surface side of the 4a lens group G4a, various optical filters such as an optical low-pass filter and an infrared cut filter, and a cover glass (seal glass) of a light-receiving imaging element such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor are assumed. Here, an FG such as a filter represented as an equivalent transparent parallel plate is arranged.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, at the time of zooming from the short focal end to the long focal end, the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group G3. Moves, and the fourth lens group G4 is fixed. As a result, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased.
Focusing is preferably performed by the first lens group G1.
In Example 2, the focal length f, the F number F, and the half angle of view ω of the entire optical system are f = 7.72 to 30.00 to 116.116 by zooming from the short focal point to the long focal point, respectively. 36, F = 1.65 to 1.65 to 1.95 and ω = 31.51 to 8.08 to 2.10. The optical characteristics of each optical element are as shown in Table 5 below.

この実施例２においては、全光学系の焦点距離ｆ、Ｆ値、半画角ω、第１レンズ群Ｇ１と第２レンズ群Ｇ２との間の可変間隔ＤＡ、第２レンズ群Ｇ２と第３レンズ群Ｇ３との間の可変間隔ＤＢ、そして第３レンズ群Ｇ３と絞りＡＤとの間の可変間隔ＤＣ等の可変量は、ズーミングに伴って次表６のように変化する。

In Example 2, the focal length f, the F value, the half angle of view ω of the entire optical system, the variable distance DA between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G2. The variable amount DB such as the variable distance DB between the lens group G3 and the variable distance DC between the third lens group G3 and the stop AD changes as shown in Table 6 along with zooming.

回折面の焦点距離ｆｄｏｅは、位相関数の２次項の係数をＣ２とし、位相関数の４次項の係数をＣ４として、
ｆｄｏｅ＝−１（２×Ｃ２）
で表されるが、この実施例２においては、第２面、即ち、負レンズＬ１１と正レンズＬ１２との接合面に形成される回折面の位相関数の２次項の係数Ｃ２は、以下の表７に記載の通りである。尚、位相関数の４次項の係数Ｃ４も併記する。

The focal length fdoe of the diffractive surface is expressed by assuming that the coefficient of the second order term of the phase function is C2 and the coefficient of the fourth order term of the phase function is C4.
fdoe = −1 (2 × C2)
In Example 2, the coefficient C2 of the second-order term of the phase function of the diffractive surface formed on the second surface, that is, the cemented surface of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12, is expressed by the following table. 7 as described. The coefficient C4 of the fourth order term of the phase function is also shown.

尚、回折格子の形状は、上述したように、基準波長（ｄ線）をλｄ、光軸からの距離をｈ、位相をφ（ｈ）として、
φ（ｈ）＝２π／λｄ（Ｃ２・ｈ^２＋Ｃ４・ｈ^４）と表される。
この実施例２の場合、上記条件式（１）〜条件式（９）に対応する値は、次表８の通りとなり、それぞれ条件式（１）〜（９）を満足している。特に、第４ａレンズ群Ｇ４ａのうちの、正レンズＬ４ａ２と正レンズＬ４ａ３は、条件式（１）、（２）、（３）および条件式（６）を、共に満足している。

The shape of the diffraction grating is as described above, where the reference wavelength (d-line) is λd, the distance from the optical axis is h, and the phase is φ (h).
φ (h) = 2π / λd (C2 · h ² + C4 · h ⁴ ).
In the case of Example 2, values corresponding to the conditional expressions (1) to (9) are as shown in Table 8 below, which satisfy the conditional expressions (1) to (9), respectively. In particular, in the 4a lens group G4a, the positive lens L4a2 and the positive lens L4a3 satisfy both the conditional expressions (1), (2), (3) and the conditional expression (6).

6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 show spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and coma at the short focal end (wide angle end), intermediate focal length, and long focal end (telephoto end) of Example 2, respectively. Each aberration diagram of the aberration is shown. In these aberration diagrams, the broken line in the spherical aberration diagram represents the sine condition, the solid line in the astigmatism diagram represents sagittal, and the broken line represents meridional. The same applies to the aberration diagrams of the other examples.
As is apparent from FIGS. 6 to 8, in the zoom lens of Example 2, the aberration is sufficiently corrected, and it is possible to cope with a light receiving element of 1 to 5 million pixels. By configuring the zoom lens as in Example 2, it is apparent that very good image performance can be ensured while achieving sufficient size reduction.

FIG. 9 shows the lens configuration of the optical system of the zoom lens of Example 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and the short focal point, that is, the long focal point, that is, the telephoto end through a predetermined intermediate focal length from the wide angle end. FIG. 4A shows a zoom trajectory associated with zooming, wherein (a) is a cross-sectional view at the short focal end, that is, a wide-angle end, (b) is a cross-sectional view at a predetermined intermediate focal length, and (c) is a long focal end, It is sectional drawing in a telephoto end. In FIG. 9 showing the lens group arrangement of the third embodiment, the left side in the figure is the object (subject) side.
The zoom lens shown in FIG. 9 includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. G3 and a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refractive power are arranged.
In the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a is disposed closer to the object side than the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4, and the 4b lens group G4b is disposed on the image side.
The first lens group G1 to the fourth lens group G4 are each supported by a common support frame or the like appropriate for each group, and at least the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are in each group during zooming and the like. The aperture stop AD is provided integrally with the fourth lens group G4.

During zooming from the short focal end (wide angle end) to the long focal end (telephoto end), the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group Since G3 moves and the fourth lens group G4 is fixed, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are separated from each other. Move so that the interval is smaller.
In the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9, the first lens group G1 of the zoom lens of Example 3 is composed of a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A negative lens L11, a positive lens L12 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side on the object side, and a positive lens L13 composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed to the object side are arranged. .
A laminated diffractive optical element is closely attached to the lens surface of the first lens group G1, in this case, the cemented surface.
Then, the two lenses of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12 of the first lens group G1 are intimately bonded to each other and integrally joined to form two cemented lenses.

The second lens group G2 includes, in order from the object side, a negative lens L21 made of a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface facing the image surface side, and a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the object side surface directed to the image surface side. A negative lens L22, a positive lens L23 composed of a biconvex lens with a convex surface having a larger curvature than the object side surface on the image side, and a negative lens L24 composed of a negative meniscus lens with a concave surface facing the object side are arranged. Yes.
The third lens group G3 has, in order from the object side, a negative lens L31 composed of a biconcave lens with a concave surface having a larger curvature than the surface on the image side facing the object side, and a convex surface having a larger curvature on the object side than the image surface side. A positive lens L32 made of a plano-convex lens is disposed.
The two lenses of the negative lens L31 and the positive lens L32 of the third lens group G3 are in close contact with each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, a diaphragm AD and various filters F such as an ND filter made of a parallel plate adjacent to the diaphragm AD are inserted, and the fourth lens group G4 and It is held together.

Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a disposed on the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A positive lens L4a2 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the object-side surface on the image surface side, and a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image-side surface on the object side A positive lens L4a3, a negative lens L4a4 composed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the image side surface, and a positive lens L4a5 composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side. doing.
The positive lens L4a3 and the negative lens L4a4 of the fourth-a lens group G4a are closely bonded to each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4b lens group G4b disposed on the image plane side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 is a negative meniscus having a concave surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A negative lens L4b1 made of a lens and a positive lens L4b2 made of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side are disposed on the object side.
In addition, on the image surface side of the 4a lens group G4a, various optical filters such as an optical low-pass filter and an infrared cut filter, and a cover glass (seal glass) of a light-receiving imaging element such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor are assumed. Is. Here, an FG such as a filter represented as an equivalent transparent parallel plate is disposed.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, at the time of zooming from the short focal end to the long focal end, the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group G3. Moves, and the fourth lens group G4 is fixed. As a result, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased.
Focusing is preferably performed by the first lens group G1.
In Example 3, the focal length f, F number F, and half angle of view ω of the entire optical system are f = 7.72 to 29.99 to 116.116 by zooming from the short focal end to the long focal end, respectively. 36, F = 1.64 to 1.64 to 1.92 and ω = 31.42 to 8.08 to 2.10. The optical characteristics of each optical element are as shown in Table 9 below.

この実施例３においては、全光学系の焦点距離ｆ、Ｆ値、半画角ω、第１レンズ群Ｇ１と第２レンズ群Ｇ２との間の可変間隔ＤＡ、第２レンズ群Ｇ２と第３レンズ群Ｇ３との間の可変間隔ＤＢ、そして第３レンズ群Ｇ３と絞りＡＤとの間の可変間隔ＤＣ等の可変量は、ズーミングに伴って次表１０のように変化する。

In Example 3, the focal length f, the F value, the half field angle ω of the entire optical system, the variable distance DA between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G2. The variable amount DB such as the variable distance DB between the lens group G3 and the variable distance DC between the third lens group G3 and the stop AD changes as shown in Table 10 along with zooming.

回折面の焦点距離ｆｄｏｅは、位相関数の２次項の係数をＣ２とし、位相関数の４次項の係数をＣ４として、
ｆｄｏｅ＝−１（２×Ｃ２）
で表されるが、この実施例３においては、第２面、即ち、負レンズＬ１１と正レンズＬ１２との接合面に形成される回折面の位相関数の２次項の係数Ｃ２は、以下の表１１に記載の通りである。尚、位相関数の４次項の係数Ｃ４も併記する。

The focal length fdoe of the diffractive surface is expressed by assuming that the coefficient of the second order term of the phase function is C2 and the coefficient of the fourth order term of the phase function is C4.
fdoe = −1 (2 × C2)
In Example 3, the coefficient C2 of the second-order term of the phase function of the diffractive surface formed on the second surface, that is, the cemented surface of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12, is expressed in the following table. 11 as described. The coefficient C4 of the fourth order term of the phase function is also shown.

尚、回折格子の形状は、上述したように、基準波長（ｄ線）をλｄ、光軸からの距離をｈ、位相をφ（ｈ）として、
φ（ｈ）＝２π／λｄ（Ｃ２・ｈ^２＋Ｃ４・ｈ^４）と表される。
この実施例３の場合、上記条件式（１）〜条件式（９）に対応する値は、次表１２の通りとなり、それぞれ条件式（１）〜（９）を満足している。特に、第４ａレンズ群Ｇ４ａのうちの、正レンズＬ４ａ２と正レンズＬ４ａ３は、条件式（１）、（２）、（３）および条件式（６）を、共に満足している。

The shape of the diffraction grating is as described above, where the reference wavelength (d-line) is λd, the distance from the optical axis is h, and the phase is φ (h).
φ (h) = 2π / λd (C2 · h ² + C4 · h ⁴ ).
In the case of Example 3, values corresponding to the conditional expressions (1) to (9) are as shown in the following table 12, which satisfy the conditional expressions (1) to (9), respectively. In particular, in the 4a lens group G4a, the positive lens L4a2 and the positive lens L4a3 satisfy both the conditional expressions (1), (2), (3) and the conditional expression (6).

10, 11, and 12 show spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and coma at the short focal end (wide angle end), the intermediate focal length, and the long focal end (telephoto end) of Example 3, respectively. Each aberration diagram of the aberration is shown. In these aberration diagrams, the broken line in the spherical aberration diagram represents the sine condition, the solid line in the astigmatism diagram represents sagittal, and the broken line represents meridional. The same applies to the aberration diagrams of the other examples.
As is apparent from FIGS. 10 to 12, the aberration is sufficiently corrected in the zoom lens of Example 3, and it is possible to cope with a light receiving element of 1 to 5 million pixels. By configuring the zoom lens as in Example 3, it is apparent that very good image performance can be ensured while achieving sufficient size reduction.

FIG. 13 shows the lens configuration of the zoom lens optical system of Example 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention and the short focal point, that is, the long focal point, that is, the telephoto end, after passing through a predetermined intermediate focal length from the wide angle end. FIG. 4A shows a zoom trajectory associated with zooming, where (a) is a cross-sectional view at the short focal end, ie, the wide-angle end, (b) is a cross-sectional view at a predetermined intermediate focal length, and (c) is a long focal end, It is sectional drawing in a telephoto end. In FIG. 13 showing the lens group arrangement of Example 4, the left side in the figure is the object (subject) side.
The zoom lens shown in FIG. 13 includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. G3 and a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refractive power are arranged.
In the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a is disposed closer to the object side than the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4, and the 4b lens group G4b is disposed on the image side.
The first lens group G1 to the fourth lens group G4 are each supported by a common support frame or the like that is appropriate for each group. For zooming or the like, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are divided into groups. The aperture AD is held by the fourth lens group G4.

During zooming from the short focal end (wide angle end) to the long focal end (telephoto end), the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group Since G3 moves and the fourth lens group G4 is fixed, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 are separated from each other. Move so that the interval is smaller.
FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the first lens group G1 of the zoom lens of Example 4 (numerical example; the same applies hereinafter) has a concave surface in order from the object side to the image surface side. A negative lens L11 composed of a negative meniscus lens toward the surface, a positive lens L12 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side on the object side, and a positive lens composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed to the object side L13 is arranged.
A laminated diffractive optical element is closely attached to the lens surface of the first lens group G1, in this case, the cemented surface.
Then, the two lenses of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12 of the first lens group G1 are intimately bonded to each other and integrally joined to form two cemented lenses.

The second lens group G2, in order from the object side, has a negative lens L21 composed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the object side on the image side, and a concave surface having a larger curvature than the object side surface on the image surface side. A negative lens L22 composed of a biconcave lens and a positive lens L23 composed of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side are disposed.
The third lens group G3 has, in order from the object side, a negative lens L31 composed of a biconcave lens with a concave surface having a larger curvature than the surface on the image side facing the object side, and a convex surface having a larger curvature on the object side than the image surface side. A positive lens L32 made of a plano-convex lens is disposed.
The two lenses of the negative lens L31 and the positive lens L32 of the third lens group G3 are in close contact with each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, a diaphragm AD and various filters F such as an ND filter made of a parallel plate adjacent to the diaphragm AD are inserted, and the fourth lens group G4 and It is held together.
Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4a lens group G4a arranged on the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 has a curvature from the object side surface to the image surface side in order from the object side. A positive lens L4a1 composed of a biconvex lens having a large convex surface, a positive lens L4a2 composed of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature on the image surface side than the object side surface, and a curvature on the object side from the image surface side. From a positive lens L4a3 composed of a biconvex lens having a large convex surface, a negative lens L4a4 composed of a biconcave lens having a concave surface having a larger curvature than the surface on the image side toward the object side, and a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side A positive lens L4a5 is arranged.

The positive lens L4a3 and the negative lens L4a4 of the fourth-a lens group G4a are closely bonded to each other to form two cemented lenses that are integrally joined.
Among the fourth lens group G4, the 4b lens group G4b disposed on the image plane side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group G4 is a negative meniscus having a concave surface directed toward the image plane in order from the object side. A negative lens L4b1 made of a lens and a positive lens L4b2 made of a biconvex lens having a convex surface having a larger curvature than the image surface side are disposed on the object side.
In addition, on the image surface side of the 4a lens group G4a, various optical filters such as an optical low-pass filter and an infrared cut filter, and a cover glass (seal glass) of a light-receiving imaging element such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor are assumed. Here, an FG such as a filter represented as an equivalent transparent parallel plate is arranged.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, at the time of zooming from the short focal end to the long focal end, the first lens group G1 is fixed, the second lens group G2 moves to the image side, and the third lens group G3. Since the fourth lens group G4 is fixed, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, and the distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased.
Focusing is preferably performed by the first lens group G1.
In Example 4, the focal length f, the F number F, and the half angle of view ω of the entire optical system are f = 7.72 to 30.00 to 116.116 by zooming from the short focal point to the long focal point, respectively. 40, F = 1.64 to 1.64 to 1.92 and ω = 31.38 to 8.09 to 2.11. The optical characteristics of each optical element are as shown in Table 13 below.

この実施例４においては、全光学系の焦点距離ｆ、Ｆ値、半画角ω、第１レンズ群Ｇ１と第２レンズ群Ｇ２との間の可変間隔ＤＡ、第２レンズ群Ｇ２と第３レンズ群Ｇ３との間の可変間隔ＤＢ、そして第３レンズ群Ｇ３と絞りＡＤとの間の可変間隔ＤＣ等の可変量は、ズーミングに伴って次表１４のように変化する。

In Example 4, the focal length f, the F value, the half angle of view ω of the entire optical system, the variable distance DA between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G2. The variable amount DB such as the variable distance DB between the lens group G3 and the variable distance DC between the third lens group G3 and the stop AD changes as shown in the following Table 14 along with zooming.

回折面の焦点距離ｆｄｏｅは、位相関数の２次項の係数をＣ２とし、位相関数の４次項の係数をＣ４として、
ｆｄｏｅ＝−１（２×Ｃ２）
で表されるが、この実施例４においては、第２面、即ち、負レンズＬ１１と正レンズＬ１２との接合面に形成される回折面の位相関数の２次項の係数Ｃ２は、以下の表１５に記載の通りである。尚、位相関数の４次項の係数Ｃ４も併記する。

The focal length fdoe of the diffractive surface is expressed by assuming that the coefficient of the second order term of the phase function is C2 and the coefficient of the fourth order term of the phase function is C4.
fdoe = −1 (2 × C2)
In Example 4, the coefficient C2 of the second-order term of the phase function of the diffractive surface formed on the second surface, that is, the cemented surface of the negative lens L11 and the positive lens L12, is expressed in the following table. 15 as described. The coefficient C4 of the fourth order term of the phase function is also shown.

尚、回折格子の形状は、上述したように、基準波長（ｄ線）をλｄ、光軸からの距離をｈ、位相をφ（ｈ）として、
φ（ｈ）＝２π／λｄ（Ｃ２・ｈ^２＋Ｃ４・ｈ^４）と表される。
この実施例４の場合、上記条件式（１）〜条件式（９）に対応する値は、次表１６の通りとなり、それぞれ条件式（１）〜（９）を満足している。特に、第４ａレンズ群Ｇ４ａのうち、正レンズＬ４ａ２と正レンズＬ４ａ３は、条件式（１）、（２）、（３）および条件式（６）を共に満足している。

The shape of the diffraction grating is as described above, where the reference wavelength (d-line) is λd, the distance from the optical axis is h, and the phase is φ (h).
φ (h) = 2π / λd (C2 · h ² + C4 · h ⁴ ).
In the case of Example 4, values corresponding to the conditional expressions (1) to (9) are as shown in Table 16 below, which satisfy the conditional expressions (1) to (9), respectively. In particular, in the 4a lens group G4a, the positive lens L4a2 and the positive lens L4a3 satisfy both the conditional expressions (1), (2), (3) and the conditional expression (6).

14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16 show spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and coma at the short focal end (wide angle end), intermediate focal length, and long focal end (telephoto end) of Example 4, respectively. Each aberration diagram of the aberration is shown. In these aberration diagrams, the broken line in the spherical aberration diagram represents the sine condition, the solid line in the astigmatism diagram represents sagittal, and the broken line represents meridional. The same applies to the aberration diagrams of the other examples.
As apparent from FIGS. 14 to 16, in the zoom lens of Example 4, the aberration is sufficiently corrected and can correspond to a light receiving element of 1 to 5 million pixels. By configuring the zoom lens as in Example 4, it is apparent that very good image performance can be ensured while achieving sufficient size reduction.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a zoom lens such as the first to fourth embodiments according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention described above is employed as a photographing optical system or a moving image photographing optical system. A camera according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a perspective view schematically showing an external configuration of a digital camera as a camera according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention viewed from the object side, and FIG. 18 is a view of the digital camera viewed from the photographer side. It is a perspective view which shows typically the outer appearance structure. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the digital camera. 17 to 19 describe a digital camera as a camera. However, the digital camera is mainly used for imaging including a video camera mainly for moving image shooting and a conventional film camera using a so-called silver salt film. Various information devices including not only imaging devices but also portable information terminal devices such as cellular phones and PDAs (personal data assistants), and also portable terminal devices such as so-called smartphones and tablet terminals including these functions imaging function corresponding to the digital camera or the like it is not a multi that incorporated.

Such an information device also includes substantially the same functions and configurations as those of a digital camera or the like, although the appearance is slightly different. Such an information device includes the first embodiment of the present invention described above. The zoom lens according to the fourth embodiment can be used as an imaging optical system.
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the digital camera includes a camera body 100, an imaging lens (photographing lens) 101, an optical finder 102, a strobe (electronic flashlight) 103, a shutter button 104, a power switch 105, and a liquid crystal monitor 106. , An operation button 107, a memory card slot 108, a zoom switch 109, and the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the digital camera includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, an image processing device 112, a light receiving element 113, a signal processing device 114, a semiconductor memory 115, a communication card 116 and the like in a camera body 100. It has.
The digital camera includes an imaging lens 101 as an imaging optical system, and a light receiving element 113 configured as an image sensor using a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) imaging element or a CCD (charge coupled device) imaging element. The light receiving element 113 reads a subject optical image formed by the imaging lens 101. As the imaging lens 101, the zoom lens according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention as described in the first to fourth embodiments is used.

The output of the light receiving element 113 is processed by a signal processing device 114 controlled by the central processing unit 111 and converted into digital image information. The image information digitized by the signal processing device 114 is recorded in a semiconductor memory 115 such as a nonvolatile memory after being subjected to predetermined image processing in the image processing device 112 which is also controlled by the central processing unit 111. In this case, the semiconductor memory 115 may be a memory card loaded in the memory card slot 108 or a semiconductor memory built on board in the digital camera body. The liquid crystal monitor 106 can display an image being shot, or can display an image recorded in the semiconductor memory 115. The image recorded in the semiconductor memory 115 is transmitted to the outside via a communication card 116 or the like loaded in a communication card slot (not shown explicitly, but may also be used as the memory card slot 108). Is also possible.
When the camera is carried, the objective surface of the imaging lens 101 is covered with a lens barrier (not clearly shown). When the user operates the power switch 105 to turn on the power, the lens barrier opens, The objective surface is exposed. At this time, in the lens barrel of the imaging lens 101, the optical systems of the respective groups constituting the zoom lens are arranged at, for example, a short focal end (wide angle end). The arrangement of the group optical system is changed, and the zooming operation to the long focal end (telephoto end) can be performed via the intermediate focal length.

It is desirable that the optical system of the optical viewfinder 102 is also scaled in conjunction with the change in the angle of view of the imaging lens 101.
In many cases, focusing is performed by half-pressing the shutter button 104.
Focusing in the zoom lens according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention (before mentioned the Example 1 zoom lens shown in Example 4), a part of the optical system of the plurality of groups constituting the zoom lens This can be done by moving the group. When the shutter button 104 is further pushed down to the fully depressed state, photographing is performed, and then the processing as described above is performed.
When the image recorded in the semiconductor memory 115 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 106 or transmitted to the outside via the communication card 116 or the like, the operation button 107 is operated in a predetermined manner. The semiconductor memory 115 and the communication card 116 are used by being loaded into dedicated or general-purpose slots such as the memory card slot 108 and the communication card slot, respectively.

When the imaging lens 101 is in the retracted state, the groups of the imaging lenses do not necessarily have to be aligned on the optical axis. For example, if the mechanism is such that at least one of the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is retracted from the optical axis and retracted in parallel with the other lens groups when retracted, the digital camera can be made thinner. Can be realized.
As described above, the imaging apparatus such as the digital camera (camera) described above or an information apparatus having a similar imaging function is similar to the first to fourth embodiments (Examples 1 to 4). An imaging lens 101 configured using a zoom lens can be used as a photographing optical system. Therefore, an information device such as an image pickup device such as a small digital camera with high image quality using a light receiving element having 1 million to 5 million pixels or more or a portable information terminal device having a similar image pickup function is realized. be able to.
The configuration of the zoom lens according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention can also be applied as a photographing lens of a conventional silver salt film camera or a projection lens of a projector.

G1 first lens group (positive)
L11 Negative lens L12 Positive lens L13 Positive lens G2 Second lens group (negative)
L21 Negative lens L22 Negative lens L23 Positive lens L24 Negative lens G3 Third lens group (negative)
L31 Negative lens L32 Positive lens G4 Fourth lens group (positive)
G4a 4th lens group L4a1 positive lens L4a2 positive lens L4a3 positive lens L4a4 negative lens L4a5 positive lens G4b 4b lens group L4b1 negative lens L4b2 positive lens AD stop FG filter etc. Various filters 100 Camera body 101 Imaging lens 102 Imaging lens 102 Imaging lens 102 (Electronic flashlight)
104 Shutter button 105 Power switch 106 Liquid crystal monitor 107 Operation button 108 Memory card slot 109 Zoom switch 111 Central processing unit (CPU)
112 Image processing device 113 Light receiving element (area sensor)
114 Signal processor 115 Semiconductor memory 116 Communication card, etc.

JP 2008-197534 A JP 2003-287678 A JP 2000-221402 A

Claims (9)

In order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens having a positive refractive power The first lens group is fixed, the second lens group is moved to the image side, the third lens group is moved, and the zoom lens is changed upon zooming from the short focus end to the long focus end. In the zoom lens in which the fourth lens group is fixed, the fourth lens group is arranged in order from the object side to the object side from the position having the largest interval in the fourth lens group, and in order from the object side, the positive lens L4a1, the positive lens L4a2, and the positive lens. A fourth lens group consisting of L4a3, a negative lens L4a4, and a positive lens L4a5; a fourth lens group consisting of a negative lens L4b1 and a positive lens L4b2 in order from the object side on the image side; Is the following conditional expression (1 , (2), has a positive lens that satisfies (3), the first lens group has a diffractive surface, the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional expression (4).
_{1.40 <n d <1.65 (1} )
65.0 <ν _d <100.0 (2)
0.015 <P _{g, F} − (− 0.001802 × ν _d +0.6483) <0.060
(3)
50 <fdoe / f1 <200 (4)
Where n _d is the refractive index of the positive lens, ν _d is the Abbe number of the positive lens, P _{g and F} are the partial dispersion ratios of the positive lens, and f doe is the focal length of the diffractive surface. , F1 is the focal length of the first lens group.
The positive lens for g line, when the F-line, the refractive index each _n g of _c-line, n F, _{n c,} the partial dispersion ratio _{P g, F} is
_{P g, F = (n g} -n F) / (n F -n C)
It is.   2. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein two positive lenses satisfying conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) are provided in the 4a lens group. The zoom lens according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the following conditional expression (5) is satisfied.
0.2 <Da / D4 <0.35 (5)
However, D4 is the thickness of the 4th lens group, and Da is the air space between the 4a lens group and the 4b lens group. The zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the following conditional expression (6) is satisfied.
1.0 <f4p / f4 <3.0 (6)
Here, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, and f4p is the focal length of the positive lens that satisfies the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) in the 4a lens group. In the zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional expression.
0.2 <D4b / D4a <0.5 (8)
However, D4a is the thickness of the 4a lens group, and D4b is the thickness of the 4b lens group. In the zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional expression.
0.10 <f4 / ft <0.25 (9)
Here, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, and ft is the focal length of the entire system at the long focal end. A camera comprising the zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 6 as a photographing optical system. The zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a camera, characterized in that it comprises a moving image capturing optical system. The zoom lens according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a portable information terminal device characterized by having a photographic optical system of a camera functional part.

Images