Abstract: The surveying instrument contains a component part (1) for the optical imaging of a target and a camera (2) for the electronic acquisition of the image produced in the optical instrument part. A reference mark (20) is located in the optical part (1) of the instrument, and this is outside that region of this instrument part through which the optical axis passes. The image of the target is projected into the region located within the reference mark. Connected to the camera is a circuit arrangement which can detect both the effective center of the image of the reference mark and the effective center of the image of the target and which can determine not only the length, but also the direction of the distance between the two effective centers. The surveying of an object or a region can be carried out automatically by means of this instrument.