An image forming optical system which comprises a negative lens unit and a positive lens unit arranged in order from an object side. The negative lens unit includes, in order from the object side, a first negative lens and a second negative lens, or a first negative lens, a second negative lens and a third negative lens. The positive lens unit includes, in order from the object side, a third positive lens, a fourth negative lens, a fifth positive lens and a sixth positive lens, or a fourth positive lens, a fifth negative lens, a sixth positive lens and a seventh positive lens.