rangefinding
Calculating target distance
Rangefinding is the process of determining the distance to a target or object.
The term applies across military, photographic, and surveying contexts.
A rangefinding device—whether optical, laser, or acoustic—measures how far away something is: The sniper relied on rangefinding before taking the shot.
In photography, rangefinder cameras use this principle to achieve focus.
Selecting as objective
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- spottingPerceiving or identifying visually
coordinates · azimuth · elevation · mortar · howitzer · sniper · reconnaissance · laser
Handheld dual-lens magnifier
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- monocularSingle-eye magnifying optic
- reticleOptical sighting pattern
- focusConcentrated attention point
diopter · parallax · coincidence · superimposition · eyepiece · magnification · lens · prism
Radio-wave object detection
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- ultrasonicAbove audible frequency range
- laserConcentrated light device
- time-of-flightDuration of particle travel
pulse · echo · infrared · photogrammetry · telemetry · GPS · satellite
Precision angle-measuring instrument
- EDMBeat-driven club genre
- stadiaLarge open-air venues
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- rodThin rigid stick
baseline · triangulation · traverse · benchmark · geodesy · topography · cadastral · leveling
Length in yards
Self-adjusting lens clarity
- viewfinderCamera's composition window
- LeicaGerman precision camera maker
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
targeting
Selecting as objective
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
- trajectoryPath of moving object
spotting · coordinates · azimuth · elevation · mortar · howitzer · sniper · reconnaissance · laser · radar
binoculars
Handheld dual-lens magnifier
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- monocularSingle-eye magnifying optic
- reticleOptical sighting pattern
focus · diopter · parallax · coincidence · superimposition · eyepiece · magnification · lens · prism · viewfinder
radar
Radio-wave object detection
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- ultrasonicAbove audible frequency range
- laserConcentrated light device
time-of-flight · pulse · echo · infrared · photogrammetry · telemetry · GPS · satellite
theodolite
Precision angle-measuring instrument
rod · baseline · triangulation · traverse · benchmark · geodesy · topography · cadastral · leveling · chain
yardage
Length in yards
approach · carry · slope · green · fairway · caddy · hazard · dogleg
autofocus
Self-adjusting lens clarity
- viewfinderCamera's composition window
- LeicaGerman precision camera maker
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
- GPSsatellite, GPS navigation, GPS tracking, latitude, GPS receivers
- location methodsGPS, tracking, mapping, positioning, triangulation
- gunnerygunnery, aiming, cannon, firing, gunner
rangefindingeyeballing
Estimating by sight alone
dead reckoning · ballparking · guesstimation · guesstimating · approximating
rangefindingspray and pray
Uncontrolled automatic fire
find, range, arrange, finding, rearrange, finder, derange, rangefinder, rangefinders