Abstract: An optical module has a circuit carrier, a housed semiconductor element disposed on the circuit carrier, and a lens unit for projecting electromagnetic radiation along an optical axis towards the semiconductor element. The housed semiconductor element and the lens unit are embodied as two components. At least one spacer element is disposed outside the optical axis, between the housing of the semiconductor element and the lens unit. Due to the addition of a low-cost spacer element, the invention enables the simple compensation of possible remaining work tolerances, for example between client-specific semiconductor housings and lens units selected from lines of products of different production quality. While tolerance-exceeding lines of products have not had any use until now as rejects, reliable camera modules can advantageously be assembled using a compensation element according to the invention, and in principle, any mechanical adjustment of the focal point can also be dispensed with.