a very compact wide - angle zoom lens system with favorably corrected aberrations comprising a first lens group consisting of a negative meniscus lens element and a lens component having negative refractive power , a second lens group consisting of a positive cemented lens component and a negative meniscus lens element , and a third lens group comprising at least a positive meniscus lens element and a cemented lens component . the lens system is so designed as to permit zooming by displacing said first , second and third lens groups respectively .