A system for scanning a sample to acquire a digital image of the sample , the system comprising: a stage configured to support the sample ; an objective lens having a single optical axis that is orthogonal to the stage; an imaging sensor ; a focusing sensor ; at least one first beam splitter optically coupled to the objective lens and configured to receive a field of view corresponding to the optical axis of the objective lens , and simultaneously provide at least a first portion of the field of view to the imaging sensor and at least a second portion of the field of view to the focusing sensor ; and focusing optics comprising at least one second beam splitter that is optically coupled to the at least one first beam splitter and splits a beam , conveying the second portion of the field of view, into a plurality of separate optical paths , wherein the first portion of the field of view is a first region of the field of view, and wherein the second portion of the field of view is a second region of the field of view that is offset from the first region of the field of view; and wherein one point (P) on the focusing sensor is parfocal with the imaging sensor , wherein the focusing sensor comprises a plurality of regions, wherein each region of the focusing sensor receives the second portion of the field of view along one of the separate optical paths , wherein the focusing sensor is tilted at an angle with respect to each of the separate optical paths, such that the second portion of the field of view is acquired, by each region of the focusing sensor , at a different focal distance than the other regions of the focusing sensor , and wherein at least one point on one of the plurality of regions is parfocal with the imaging sensor . a stage configured to support the sample ; an objective lens having a single optical axis that is orthogonal to the stage; an imaging sensor ; a focusing sensor ; at least one first beam splitter optically coupled to the objective lens and configured to receive a field of view corresponding to the optical axis of the objective lens , and simultaneously provide at least a first portion of the field of view to the imaging sensor and at least a second portion of the field of view to the focusing sensor ; and focusing optics comprising at least one second beam splitter that is optically coupled to the at least one first beam splitter and splits a beam , conveying the second portion of the field of view, into a plurality of separate optical paths , wherein the first portion of the field of view is a first region of the field of view, and wherein the second portion of the field of view is a second region of the field of view that is offset from the first region of the field of view; and wherein one point (P) on the focusing sensor is parfocal with the imaging sensor , wherein the focusing sensor comprises a plurality of regions, wherein each region of the focusing sensor receives the second portion of the field of view along one of the separate optical paths , wherein the focusing sensor is tilted at an angle with respect to each of the separate optical paths, such that the second portion of the field of view is acquired, by each region of the focusing sensor , at a different focal distance than the other regions of the focusing sensor , and wherein at least one point on one of the plurality of regions is parfocal with the imaging sensor . <EOS>