Measure distance with autofocus?

Question

Iron

I read about autofocus, and the question arose: does the camera know the exact distance to the object?
Why is there no software that can measure at least an "approximate" distance to an object.
But there is also laser autofocus, so the laser immediately determines the distance there, so why since there is hardware, then there is no software?
I don't know why, but it became interesting...
Is there any software, or why is this not possible?

Answer 1

No. No one calibrates
autofocus to the correct numbers. They are designed to produce a sharp image. The same with flash output, apertures and shutter speeds and ISO. They are calibrated only within the device itself in relation to image quality. If you take different cameras and lenses, then very many of them, under identical shooting conditions, will have different figures for measuring distance, shutter speed, aperture, ISO. The exception is cinema equipment. There they can measure with a rangefinder, tape measure, etc. and set the parameters on the camera. But this equipment is of a completely different class. Costs like a car.
It is easier to buy a laser construction rangefinder than to measure with the lens of an ordinary camera or ordinary video camera.

Answer 2

My Asus Lazer Zen Phone had such a program. Measured by laser autofocus (?) As far as I understand, but no further than 30 cm.
In my opinion, Lazer Ruler is called, I don’t remember exactly.
Meryl is pretty accurate.