A taking lens apparatus has a zoom lens system that is composed of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the distances between the lens units and an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system has a first lens unit that is disposed at the object-side end of the zoom lens system, that has a negative optical power as a whole, that includes a reflective member for bending the optical axis of the zoom lens system as a whole at substantially 90.degree., and that remains stationary relative to the image sensor during the zooming of the zoom lens system, a second lens unit that is disposed on the image-sensor side of the first lens unit with a variable aerial distance secured in between, that has a positive optical power as a whole, and that moves toward the object side during the zooming of the zoom lens system from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, and a third lens unit that is disposed on the image-sensor side of the second lens unit with a variable aerial distance secured in between, that has a positive optical power as a whole, and that moves toward the object side during the zooming of the zoom lens system.