A velocimeter includes a light source for emitting a light beam through a flow, the flow including particles for scattering light as the light beam passes through the flow, a focussing device for focussing the scattered light into a particle image, a detecting device for detecting the particle image, and a device for timing passage of the particles through a predetermined section of the light beam. The detecting device includes at least one array of photodiodes for receiving light scattered by the particles. The array has a predetermined shape and is positioned so as to control a measurement volume geometry from which light scattered by the particles is received by the photodiodes.