Abstract: Zoom optical systems have been widely used on all kinds of optical instruments,and more and more new design methods have been employed. Maybe all designers need the innovation to proceed with the design of optical imaging instruments. In this paper a rapid computing method of zoom optical design is reported, which can be applied to initial solution of optical system, sample computation in design process, check and audit of design data, resolve of driving cam curve in structure design and aspect design etc. The examples listedin the paper show how fine this method is in the design of a zoom system.