Embodiments of the present invention initially calculate a confidence score for the image environment surrounding the subject matter in order to determine the initial number of lens positions. Once the initial lens positions are determined, a sharpness score is calculated for each determined initial lens position. Using these sharpness scores, embodiments of the present invention generate a projection used to locate an estimated optimum focus position as well as to determine an estimated sharpness score at this lens position. Embodiments of the present invention then position the lens of the camera to calculate the actual sharpness score at the estimated optimum focus position, which is then compared to the estimated optimum sharpness score previously calculated. Based on this comparison, embodiments of the present invention dynamically determine whether it has a sufficient number of lens positions to determine the optimum focus position or if additional sample lens positions are needed.