A zoom lens has good optical performance, is compact, and has a high magnifying power, and is suitable for use in a video camera, a digital still camera, a cellular phone, or the like, and a image pickup apparatus employs the zoom lens. The zoom lens (1) includes a first lens group (GR1) fixed upon zooming and having a positive refractive power, a second lens group (GR2) having a negative refractive power, a third lens group (GR3) having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group (GR4) having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens group (GR5) having a positive refractive power, which are successively arranged in the order from the object side. At least the second lens group and the fourth lens group are moved for zooming. The first lens group includes a first single lens (G1) having a negative refractive power, a reflective member (G2) for bending an optical path through 90°, and at least one second lens (G3) having a positive refractive power, which are successively arranged in the order from the object side.