There is disclosed a variable-power copying lens including, successively in order from an object, a first lens group having a positive focal length and a second lens group having a negative focal length. The first and second lens groups are movable in their entirety while varying an interval therebetween to keep constant the distance between an object surface and an image-focusing surface. The first lens group comprises a first positive lens, a second negative lens, a third positive lens, a fourth negative lens, and a fifth positive lens. The second lens group comprises a sixth positive-meniscus lens having a convex surface facing an image and a seventh negative-meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the image.

An objective lens system, for example of a Gauss or Tessar type is provided having the capability of adequately correcting aberrations even when the lens system is focussed at a relatively close object. The lens system is adaptable for use in cameras and comprises a first lens group including an aperture stop and a second lens group positioned on the image side of the first lens group. The second lens group includes a first lens sub-group of positive refracting power and a second lens sub-group of negative refractive power. The air spaces provided between the first lens group and the first lens sub-group and also between the first lens sub-group and the second lens sub-group are varied to compensate for changes in aberrations resulting from focussing at a relatively close object. More specifically, the first air space is increased while the second air space is decreased when the object distance of the lens system is decreased.

A lens system comprising a front lens group consisting of a first, second and third lens components respectively of positive meniscus lenses with the convex surfaces on the object side and a fourth lens component of a negative meniscus lens and a rear lens group consisting of a fifth lens component of a positive or negative cemented meniscus lens with the convex surfaces on the image side and a sixth lens component of a positive lens. In this lens system, the entire lens system is moved along an optical axis to focus and an airspace between the fourth and fifth lens component and an airspace between the fifth and sixth lens components are respectively varied non-linearly to correct the collapse of aberrations. The front lens group may consist of a first lens component of a positive lens, a second lens component of a negative lens and a third lens component of a positive lens and the rear lens group may consist of a fourth lens component of a negative lens and a fifth lens component of a positive lens. In this case, an airspace between the third and fourth lens components and an airspace between the fourth and fifth lens components are respectively varied non-linearly to correct the collapse of aberrations.

A variable power lens system capable of both enlargement and reduction of the image of an original to be copied, in which the distance between the object and image surfaces constant. The lens system includes a first lens group having a first positive focal length and a second lens group having a negative focal length. The distance between the first and second lens groups is variable. A lens power of each lens group is increased so that a distance between the object surface and the lens is long in comparison with a distance between the lens and the image surface and at the same time the variable power ratio is greater than 2 with high performance and compactness.

An apocromatic relay system suitable for use in a high definition telecine apparatus comprising two groups of lens components with approximate symmetry about an aperture stop, as in a basic double gauss configuration plus one or two additional lens components located at the front of the first group of lens components and/or at the rear of the second group.