A simply structured zooming movement mechanism for moving a first lens group located in the object side from a bending member. Also provided are a small-sized lens unit by making it collapsible and an image pickup apparatus. The lens unit has: the bending member for bending the light, entering from an object along a first optical axis, to the direction of a second optical axis substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis; and a first moving member for moving a first support member, which supports the first lens group, in the direction of the first optical axis to a storage position; a bending member moving member for moving the bending member to an evacuation position in order to create a space for storing the first supporting member; and a first zooming movement member for moving the first supporting member in the direction of the first optical axis in a variable magnification manner. The first zooming movement member, the bending member moving member and the first moving member are driven in this order.