Thanks for all the responces, to clarify I would like to be able to
get distance anywhere between about 20-100ft (more is better) with
measurements being accurate to within about 1ft as in Chen's second
description. I would like to be able to detect any opaque object, but
the material could be restricted to pretty much anything if it would
make the range finding easier.

I keep finding laser measurement tools that fall into two basic
categories, some don't quite have the range I'm looking for, but are
inexpensive ($30 USD), and others do way more than I need and are very
expensive ($300+) see below for links. I'll keep looking for one in
the middle, or a sensor module that I can just drop into my project.

inexpensive, but only 50ft (says it's a "sonic laser" device)
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0443741925.1128093642@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddfldjmmijcgelceffdfgidgkj.0&MID=9876

expensive, and overkill
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=Products_2%2fHand+Tools%2fMarking+%26+Layout+Tools%2fStud+Sensors&BV_SessionID=@@@@0443741925.1128093642@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddfldjmmijcgelceffdfgidgkj.0&MID=9876

~Jake B

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