A laser rangefinder is a distance measuring instrument which uses laser technology to calculate the distance to targeted objects. Accuracy is +/- one metre/yard and the distance is displayed instantaneously on a built in, through the lens Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

Laser rangefinders use an invisible, eye-safe class 1 laser beam which is 'bounced' off distant objects with the press of a button. Then the rangefinders high speed digital clock measures the time it took for a laser beam to reach a target and return to the unit. Next, using advanced digital electronics, the rangefinder instantly calculates the distance within +/- one metre/yard and shows the range in either yards or metres through the lens' LCD display. The entire process is so fast that less than a second elapses between the time you press the button to generate a laser beam to the time the exact range to your target is displayed.

Because rangefinders 'bounce' a laser beam off the target in order to take a measurement, their range is partially determined by the reflectivity of the target. In other words, hard or 'reflective' targets - like a rock cliff or building can be measured at greater distances than soft surface targets such as a deer or fox. Ranges for moderately reflective targets like trees, fall somewhere in the middle.