Optical distance meter having switchable receiving aperture

An optical distance meter comprising:

• a transmitter configured to generate an oriented, transmitted beam defining a target axis,
• a receiver, configured to capture at least a part of the transmitted beam returning from the target, referred to hereafter as received radiation, and
• a receiving channel, which substantially defines a single capture direction for capturing the received radiation,
• wherein the distance meter is configured to carry out a distance measurement by means of the transmitted beam in:
• a first measuring mode, in which the distance meter is set for distance measurement on a retroreflective target, and
• a second measuring mode, in which the distance meter is set for distance measurement on a diffusely scattering target,
• wherein the receiving channel is configured such that, for the capture of the received radiation:
• in the first measuring mode, a first aperture of the receiving channel is set, namely a first free opening of the receiving channel through which the part of the received radiation used for the distance measurement in the first measuring mode passes,
• in the second measuring mode, a second aperture of the receiving channel is set, namely a second free opening of the receiving channel through which the part of the received radiation used for the distance measurement in the second measuring mode passes,
• wherein the first aperture is smaller than the second aperture.