RANGEFINDER APPARATUS

A rangefinder apparatus includes an effective minimum value certifying unit for comparing a minimum value, exhibiting the smallest value in correlation values calculated for the each rangefinding area, with a reference value for a degree of correlation and certifying a minimum value smaller than the reference value as an effective minimum value, effective for a rangefinding calculation, a distance calculating unit for calculating the distance to the object according to the effective minimum value certified for each rangefinding area; and a correlation calculation restricting unit for omitting the correlation calculation within a specific distance range, farther by at least a predetermined amount than the shortest distance calculated according to the effective minimum value in the correlation calculation for a rangefinding area to be later subjected to the correlation calculation, when the effective minimum value exists in the rangefinding area earlier subjected to the correlation calculation.