An electronic distance meter includes a sighting telescope having an objective lens for sighting an object; a reflection member positioned behind the objective lens; an optical distance meter which includes a light-transmitting optical system for transmitting a measuring light via the reflection member and the objective lens, and a light-receiving optical system for receiving light which is reflected by the object, subsequently passed through the objective lens and not interrupted by the reflection member; a beam-diameter varying device, provided in association with the light-transmitting optical system, for varying a beam diameter of the measuring light; and a controller which varies the beam diameter via the beam-diameter varying device in accordance with a distance from the object to the electronic distance meter.