Techniques and mechanisms for determining a configuration of the lens system. In an embodiment, respective distances from a reference are determined for each of a plurality of objects that are observable via the lens system. Based on the object distances, counts of in-focus objects are determined, each for a corresponding focal configuration of the lens system. Each such count of in-focus objects represents a total number of objects that are (or would be) in focus during the corresponding focal configuration, wherein a respective one of the plurality of objects is at a near depth of field of the corresponding focal configuration. In another embodiment, a preference of one focal configuration over another focal configuration is determined based on the counts of in-focus objects.