A camera with a distance measuring apparatus has distance measuring functions by means of an active system and a passive system to allow good distance measurement with respect to an object in a wide variety of conditions. The camera includes a first signal forming unit, a second signal forming unit, a release detecting unit, an object condition detecting unit and a selective control unit. The first signal forming unit projects light distance measurement light from a light projecting unit, receives a reflection signal of the distance measurement light from the object at a light receiving unit and forms a focusing signal for the object. The second signal forming unit monitors the luminance distribution state of the object using an image signal detecting unit and forms a focusing signal for the object. The release detecting unit detects whether or not a release operating member is operated. The object condition detecting unit detects an object condition based on a signal obtained by actuating either the first signal forming unit or the second signal forming unit before the operation of the release operating member. The selective control unit selectively controls either the first signal forming unit or the second signal forming unit based on the detection result of the object condition detecting unit if the release detecting unit detects the operation of the release operating member.