Patent attributes
An imaging optical system includes a positive or negative first lens group including a negative lens element closest to the object, a diaphragm, and a positive second lens group. The negative lens element closest to the object has an object-side aspherical surface including a paraxial convex surface, a paraxial curvature that is the greatest within the effective aperture, and a portion within the effective aperture having a curvature less than ½ of the paraxial curvature. These conditions are satisfied:R1/f<1.35D1/f>0.4−2.5<f1/f<−1.3V>56“f” designates the overall focal length; f1, R1 and D1 respectively designate the focal length, paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface, and thickness, of the negative lens element closest to the object; and V designates the Abbe number regarding the d-line of a lens element, within the second lens group, closest to the diaphragm.