A method for determining an exposure, in particular an exposure time, for a recording in a method for determining the 3D coordinates of an object is provided, in which a pattern is projected onto the object and the light reflected by the object is recorded. To improve such a method, a recording of the object is produced with a predetermined exposure, in particular exposure time. A mask image of this recording is produced, in which mask image the regions of the object lying within the measurement volume are depicted. The exposure, in particular the exposure time, for the recording is determined depending on the predetermined exposure, in particular exposure time, depending on the mean greyscale value in the regions, lying within the measurement volume, of the recording with a predetermined exposure and depending on an ideal greyscale value.