A system for automatically focusing a microscope, comprising: an objective ; a stage for positioning a specimen on a first image forming conjugate plane; a first camera , configured for focusing, positioned on a second image forming conjugate plane; a second camera , configured for focusing, positioned at an offset distance from the second image forming conjugate plane; a primary illumination source that emits light in a first wavelength range, wherein the emitted light is received by the first camera; a secondary illumination source that emits light in a second wavelength range which is different from the first wavelength range and that projects light through a focusing pattern that is positioned on a third image forming conjugate plane, wherein the projected light is received by the second camera; and a hardware processor coupled to the first camera and the second camera that is configured to: determine, using the first camera , when the specimen is in focus based on a sharpness value; capture, using the second camera , a relative sharpness value when the specimen is determined to be in focus for the first camera and determine the relative sharpness value as a sharpness setpoint; after movement of the specimen, determine, using the second camera, a first sharpness value of the specimen; determine whether the first sharpness value of the specimen is higher or lower than the sharpness setpoint; and adjust a distance between the objective and the stage so that a second sharpness value of the specimen determined using the second camera corresponds to the sharpness setpoint. an objective ; a stage for positioning a specimen on a first image forming conjugate plane; a first camera , configured for focusing, positioned on a second image forming conjugate plane; a second camera , configured for focusing, positioned at an offset distance from the second image forming conjugate plane; a primary illumination source that emits light in a first wavelength range, wherein the emitted light is received by the first camera; a secondary illumination source that emits light in a second wavelength range which is different from the first wavelength range and that projects light through a focusing pattern that is positioned on a third image forming conjugate plane, wherein the projected light is received by the second camera; and a hardware processor coupled to the first camera and the second camera that is configured to: determine, using the first camera , when the specimen is in focus based on a sharpness value; capture, using the second camera , a relative sharpness value when the specimen is determined to be in focus for the first camera and determine the relative sharpness value as a sharpness setpoint; after movement of the specimen, determine, using the second camera, a first sharpness value of the specimen; determine whether the first sharpness value of the specimen is higher or lower than the sharpness setpoint; and adjust a distance between the objective and the stage so that a second sharpness value of the specimen determined using the second camera corresponds to the sharpness setpoint. determine, using the first camera , when the specimen is in focus based on a sharpness value; capture, using the second camera , a relative sharpness value when the specimen is determined to be in focus for the first camera and determine the relative sharpness value as a sharpness setpoint; after movement of the specimen, determine, using the second camera, a first sharpness value of the specimen; determine whether the first sharpness value of the specimen is higher or lower than the sharpness setpoint; and adjust a distance between the objective and the stage so that a second sharpness value of the specimen determined using the second camera corresponds to the sharpness setpoint. <EOS>