To provide a multipoint range finder which performs a highly precise range finding processing by deciding the position of a main subject image in a photographic picture plane and performing a sure focus detecting processing for the main subject image.

This range finder is equipped with a store type area sensor 12 which light-receives a two-dimensional area in a detection picture plane, a mean luminance arithmetic means which calculates the mean luminance of the two-dimensional area according to the output of the area sensor, an area deciding means which detects a continuous area having a luminance difference of more than a given value from the mean luminance value calculated by the mean luminance arithmetic means as to the output of the area sensor, and a focus detecting means which detects the focus state in the detection picture plane according to the output of the area sensor at least in the given area detected by the area deciding means.