A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group. Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases, and a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group increases. When zooming is being performed, the third lens group remains stationary, and the first lens group and the second lens group are moveable along the optical axis of the zoom lens system; and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:

3.0f₃/f₂3.5  (1)

1.4|f₁/f_W|2.0  (2)

0.8f₂/f_W1.5  (3)

wherein

• f₁ designates the focal length of the first lens group;
• f₂ designates the focal length of the second lens group;
• f₃ designates the focal length of the third lens group; and
• fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity.