In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a stereodepth camera using a VCSEL projector with a controlled projection lens. For instance, a depth camera is described having therein a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser projector (VCSEL projector) to emit a plurality of infrared beams; a moveable lens to control the focus of the plurality of infrared beams emitted from the VCSEL projector, in which the plurality of infrared beams are projected through the moveable lens to form a projected pattern projected onto a scene; stereoscopic image capture devices to capture stereoscopic imagery from the scene having the projected pattern projected thereupon; and processing circuitry to determine depth to an object in the scene based on the captured stereoscopic imagery from the scene having the projected pattern represented therein as projected from the VCSEL projector. Other related embodiments are disclosed.