A zoom lens system consisting of two lens groups, comprising, in an order from an object to an image plane: a first lens group having a negative refractive power, the first lens group consisting of, in the order from the object to the image plane: two lens elements (211,212) each having a negative refractive power; and one lens element having a positive refractive powe; an aperture stop next to the first lens group; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power next to the aperture stop, the second lens group consisting of, in the order form the object to the image plane: a first lens element having a positive refractive powe; a second lens element having a positive refractive powe; a first lens component (233,234,243,244) having a negative refractive power a third lens element having a negative refractive powe; a fourth lens element having a positive refractive power a second lens component (237,238,245,246) having a negative refractive power a fifth lens element having a positive refractive power; and a sixth lens element (240,241,242) having a negative refractive power, wherein the first lens component consists of a single lens element or at least two elements that have their adjacent lens surfaces overlapped, the second lens component consists of a single lens element or at least two lens elements that have their adjacent lens surfaces overlapped, the fifth lens element and the sixth lens element are affixed to each other, and the zoom lens system is configured so that a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is not fixed during zooming. a first lens group having a negative refractive power, the first lens group consisting of, in the order from the object to the image plane: two lens elements (211,212) each having a negative refractive power; and one lens element having a positive refractive powe; two lens elements (211,212) each having a negative refractive power; and one lens element having a positive refractive powe; an aperture stop next to the first lens group; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power next to the aperture stop, the second lens group consisting of, in the order form the object to the image plane: a first lens element having a positive refractive powe; a second lens element a first lens element having a positive refractive powe; a second lens element having a positive refractive powe; a first lens component (233,234,243,244) having a negative refractive power a third lens element having a negative refractive powe; a fourth lens element having a positive refractive power a second lens component (237,238,245,246) having a negative refractive power a fifth lens element having a positive refractive power; and a sixth lens element (240,241,242) having a negative refractive power, wherein the first lens component consists of a single lens element or at least two elements that have their adjacent lens surfaces overlapped, the second lens component consists of a single lens element or at least two lens elements that have their adjacent lens surfaces overlapped, the fifth lens element and the sixth lens element are affixed to each other, and the zoom lens system is configured so that a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is not fixed during zooming. the first lens component consists of a single lens element or at least two elements that have their adjacent lens surfaces overlapped, the second lens component consists of a single lens element or at least two lens elements that have their adjacent lens surfaces overlapped, the fifth lens element and the sixth lens element are affixed to each other, and the zoom lens system is configured so that a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group is not fixed during zooming.