An optical lens system for taking image comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface and at least one aspheric surface; a meniscus third lens element with negative refractive power having a convex image-side surface; and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and an aspheric image-side surface. The above configurations and arrangements of the lens elements can effectively reduce the size of the optical system while improving its resolution.