Patent ID: 8773766

Claim:
A zoom lens system having a zoom range and configured to collect radiation emanating from an object side space of the zoom lens system and deliver the radiation to an image side space, the zoom lens system comprising: an objective lens group configured to be axially stationary and positively powered; a zoom lens group positioned on an image side of the objective lens group and continuously movable along an optical axis over the entire zoom range; an axially stationary lens group aligned along the optical axis and positioned on an image side of the zoom lens group, the axially stationary lens group comprising at least one liquid lens cell, the liquid lens cell comprising a first liquid in contact with a second liquid to form an optical surface having a variable shape between the contacting liquids; an axially stationary optical stop positioned along the optical axis between the zoom lens group and the axially stationary lens group, the optical stop having an iris configured to change a size of its diameter; and an optical redirection element aligned to form a fold along the optical axis, wherein the objective lens group, the axially stationary lens group, the zoom lens group, and the optical redirection element collect radiation emanating from the object side space of the zoom lens system and deliver the radiation to the image side space without forming an intermediate image along the folded optical axis, wherein the objective lens group, the zoom lens group, the optical stop, and the axially stationary lens group are positioned along the optical axis before the optical redirection element, wherein a zoom ratio of the zoom lens system is greater than 3×.