The present invention aims to provide a lightwave range finder and a measuring method or the like, which are capable of computing arbitrary three-dimensional coordinate positions, distances and areas or the like from distance and angular data, etc. The present invention can specify at least three points on a plane .alpha. including measuring points of an object to be measured, measure distances to and angles relative to at least three points corresponding to the specified points as viewed from a point of origin, determine an equation for specifying the plane .alpha., using data about the distances and angles, collimate the measuring points from the point of origin to measure angles, determine an equation indicative of a straight line connecting between the point of origin and each measuring point, and compute a measuring point corresponding to a point where the equation for specifying the plane .alpha. and the equation indicative of the straight line connecting between the point of origin and each measuring point intersect.