A zoom lens achieves a high zoom ratio and high optical performance in an entire zoom range. The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear unit which includes at least one lens unit. At least the second lens unit is moved during zooming such that a distance between the first and second lens units is larger at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end. The first lens unit includes at least a first lens element made of a material which satisfies Nd1a>2.3-0.01.nu.d1a and 1.65