We show that the two-point correlation function in the near field of scatte
red light is simply related to the scattered intensity distribution. We pre
sent a new, to our knowledge, optical scheme to measure the correlation fun
ction in the near field, and we describe a processing technique that permit
s the subtraction of stray light on a statistical basis. We present experim
ental data for solutions of latex spheres, and we show that this novel tech
nique is a powerful alternative to static light scattering. (C) 2001 Optica
l Society of America.