Laser tracker with hybrid imaging method for extending the measuring range

The invention relates to a laser tracker for determining a position and/or orientation of an auxiliary measurement object, comprising a base which defines a vertical axis, a pivotal support, and a rotatable pivoting unit with at least two optical assemblies and an image detecting unit. The optical assemblies can be moved along an optical axis of the pivoting unit, and a magnification factor is defined by a positioning of the optical assembly. The tracker further has a radiation source for emitting a laser beam, a distance measuring unit, an angle measuring functionality, and a control and processing unit with an object imaging functionality, wherein the optical assemblies are positioned relative to the auxiliary measurement object dependent on a triggered measurement such that an image is provided for the auxiliary measurement object on the image detecting unit with a particular image scale. At least one normal-distance range and a long-distance range are defined for a distance to the auxiliary measurement object by the object imaging functionality, and the magnification factor is set in a controlled manner by the control and processing unit dependent on the particular distance to the auxiliary measurement object when the object imaging functionality is carried out such that a substantially constant normal image scale is provided for each distance within the normal-distance range, and a long-distance image scale, which can vary depending on the respective distance, is provided for each distance within the long-distance range.