Device for determining a distance to an object

The device e.g. laser scanner (10), has a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a transmission light beam (18), and a light receiver (14) for receiving a reception light beam (24). An evaluation unit (16) determines a distance (d) using a run-time of the light beams. A light-impermeable element screens off a central portion of a reception lens (58), such the reception light beam is incident on a pinhole diaphragm (64) in a form of a light ring. A lens element (62) e.g. concentric Fresnel lens, is arranged between another lens element (60) and the diaphragm and has a hat-shaped cross-section.