An improved method for operating an optical disc system having a focusing mechanism, a tracking mechanism, and a lens. The method includes the steps of impinging light upon a disc to be read, moving the lens to a first position by driving an actuator, monitoring a Quad Sum signal, moving the lens away from the first position toward the disc being read while looking for a maximum of the Quad sum signal, moving the lens away from the disc, determining, during the monitoring, when Quad Sum signal is above one-half the maximum, processing a focus error signal in a digital processing circuit having a transfer function providing a frequency notch at a mechanical resonance of the actuator. The digital processing circuit produces zero crossings corresponding to focus conditions method further includes searching for a first of the zero crossings after the Quad sum signal exceeds the one-half of the maximum, and closing focus when the first zero crossing is detected. An improved optical disc system associated with the method is also provided.