This distance measuring apparatus projects a first distance measurement light ray from an IRED and projects a second distance measurement light ray having an intensity higher than that of the IRED from a flash light emission portion. A distribution of incident light from the subject is converted into an electrical signal by a sensor array. A CPU determines a distance to the subject from an output of the sensor array when the first distance measurement light ray is projected and determines a distance to the subject from an output of the sensor array when the second distance measurement light ray is projected. The CPU selects either the first distance measurement light ray or the second distance measurement light ray to be used for distance measurement based on an output level of the sensor array when the first and second distance measurement light rays are not projected.