Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for low power, variable focus. An example method can include obtaining, based on a trigger, a first image of a scene captured by an image sensor, the first image being captured with a lens of the image sensor in a first configuration of a plurality of available lens configurations; determining, based on the first image and a first detection result, whether an object of interest is present in the first image; in response to determining that the object of interest is not present in the first image, adjusting the lens to a second configuration selected from the plurality of lens configurations; obtaining, by the image sensor, a second image of the scene while the lens is in the second configuration; and determining, based on the second image and a second detection result, that the object of interest is present in the second image.