A folded lens system, comprising: a plurality of optical elements arranged along a first optical axis and a second optical axis of the folded lens system and configured to: refract light from an object side of the folded lens system along the first optical axis; redirect the light on to the second optical axis; and refract the light on the second optical axis to form an image at an image plane; wherein the plurality of optical elements includes, in order along the first and second optical axes from the object side of the folded lens system to an image side of the folded lens system: two refractive lens elements (101, 102) on the first optical axis; a light path folding element configured to redirect the light from the first optical axis on to the second optical axis; and two refractive lens elements (103, 104) on the second optical axis; wherein the folded lens system further includes an aperture stop located on the first optical axis; wherein at least one surface of at least one of the refractive lens elements is aspheric; wherein the plurality of optical elements includes, in order along the first and second optical axes from the object side of the folded lens system to the image side of the folded lens system: the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power, wherein the second lens element is negative meniscus shape and has a convex object side surface; the light path folding element, wherein the light path folding element is one of a mirror or a prism; a third lens element with negative refractive power; and a fourth lens element with positive refractive power; and wherein the lens system has effective focal length ƒ, wherein total track length, TTL, of the lens system is 14 millimeters or less, and wherein telephoto ratio, TTL/ f, of the lens system is within a range of 0.8 to 1.0. a plurality of optical elements arranged along a first optical axis and a second optical axis of the folded lens system and configured to: refract light from an object side of the folded lens system along the first optical axis; redirect the light on to the second optical axis; and refract the light on the second optical axis to form an image at an image plane; refract light from an object side of the folded lens system along the first optical axis; redirect the light on to the second optical axis; and refract the light on the second optical axis to form an image at an image plane; wherein the plurality of optical elements includes, in order along the first and second optical axes from the object side of the folded lens system to an image side of the folded lens system: two refractive lens elements (101, 102) on the first optical axis; a light path folding element configured to redirect the light from the first optical axis on to the second optical axis; and two refractive lens elements (103, 104) on the second optical axis; wherein the folded lens system further includes an aperture stop located on the first optical axis; wherein at least one surface of at least one of the refractive lens elements is aspheric; two refractive lens elements (101, 102) on the first optical axis; a light path folding element configured to redirect the light from the first optical axis on to the second optical axis; and two refractive lens elements (103, 104) on the second optical axis; wherein the folded lens system further includes an aperture stop located on the first optical axis; wherein at least one surface of at least one of the refractive lens elements is aspheric; wherein the plurality of optical elements includes, in order along the first and second optical axes from the object side of the folded lens system to the image side of the folded lens system: the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power, wherein the second lens element is negative meniscus shape and has a convex object side surface; the light path folding element, wherein the light path folding element is one of a mirror or a prism; a third lens element with negative refractive power; and a fourth lens element with positive refractive power; and wherein the lens system has effective focal length ƒ, wherein total track length, TTL, of the lens system is 14 millimeters or less, and wherein telephoto ratio, TTL/ f, of the lens system is within a range of 0.8 to 1.0. the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power, wherein the second lens element is negative meniscus shape and has a convex object side surface; the light path folding element, wherein the light path folding element is one of a mirror or a prism; a third lens element with negative refractive power; and a fourth lens element with positive refractive power; and wherein the lens system has effective focal length ƒ, wherein total track length, TTL, of the lens system is 14 millimeters or less, and wherein telephoto ratio, TTL/ f, of the lens system is within a range of 0.8 to 1.0.