Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an instant auto-focus mechanism with distance estimation are disclosed. A camera includes at least an image sensor, one or more movement and/or orientation sensors, a timer, a lens, and control circuit. The control circuit receives first and second images captured by the image sensor of a given scene. The control circuit calculates a distance between first and second camera locations when the first and second images, respectively, were captured based on the one or more movement and/or orientation sensors and the timer. Next, the control circuit calculates an estimate of a second distance between the camera and an object in the scene based on the distance between camera locations and angles between the camera and the object from the first and second locations. Then, the control circuit causes the lens to be adjusted to bring the object into focus for subsequent images.