<PAGE>   1
           AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 26, 2001
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. ___________

================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 NEW FOCUS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                                              <C>
         DELAWARE                              5215 HELLYER AVENUE                              33-0404910
 (STATE OF INCORPORATION )                SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95138-1001         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
                                 (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S
                                          PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
</TABLE>

                                 2001 STOCK PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                               KENNETH E. WESTRICK
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 NEW FOCUS, INC.
                               5215 HELLYER AVENUE
                         SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95138-1001
                                 (408) 284-4700
            (NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                    COPY TO:
                            ALISANDE M. ROZYNKO, ESQ.
                              MARGO M. EAKIN, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                               PALO ALTO, CA 94304
                                 (650) 493-9300

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                        PROPOSED               PROPOSED
                                                  AMOUNT                MAXIMUM                MAXIMUM            AMOUNT OF
         TITLE OF SECURITIES TO                   TO BE              OFFERING PRICE           AGGREGATE          REGISTRATION
             BE REGISTERED                     REGISTERED(1)           PER SHARE(2)         OFFERING PRICE          FEE(3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>                  <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share           100,000 shares       $6.545                $654,500              $163.63
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)  Amount of securities to be registered are computed in accordance with Rule
     457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as the maximum number
     of the Registrant's Common Stock issuable under the 2001 Stock Plan. This
     Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common
     Stock which become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
     recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt
     of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the
     outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share and Proposed Maximum
     Aggregate Offering Price are estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and
     Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
     solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
     based on the average of the high and low prices per share of the Common
     Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on July 10, 2001, which was
     $6.545.

(3)  The amount of the Registration fee was calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)
     of the Securities Act of 1933 which provides that the fee shall be $250 per
     $1,000,000 of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the
     securities proposed to be registered.
================================================================================

<PAGE>   2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         There are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and into the Prospectus relating to this Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 428 the following documents and information previously filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

          1.   New Focus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000, filed with the Commission on March 29, 2001.

          2.   New Focus' current report on Form 8-K filed on January 24, 2001,
as amended March 16, 2001.

          3.   New Focus' current report on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2001.

          4.   New Focus' current report on Form 8-K filed on April 27, 2001.

          5.   New Focus' quarterly report for the quarter ended April 1, 2001
on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2001.

          6.   The description of New Focus' Common Stock contained in the New
Focus Registration Statement on Form 8-A (No. 12G) filed pursuant to Section 12
of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof, and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

<PAGE>   3

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL")
provides in relevant part that "[a] corporation may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful." With respect to derivative actions, Section 145(b) of the
DGCL provides in relevant part that "[a] corporation may indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor...[by reason of this service in one of the
capacities specified in the preceding sentence] against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall be adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court
shall deem proper."

         Article X of the Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides for the indemnification of directors to the fullest
extent permissible under Delaware law.

         Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws provides for the indemnification
of officers, directors and third parties acting on behalf of the Registrant if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and
not opposed to the best interest of the Registrant, and, in any criminal action
or proceeding, the indemnified party had no reason to believe his or her conduct
was unlawful.

         The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its
directors and executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in
the Registrant's Bylaws, and intends to enter into indemnification agreements
with any new directors and executive officers in the future.

         The Company carries officer and director liability insurance with
respect to certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>   4


ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                DOCUMENT
-------    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>
 4.1       Registrant's 2001 Stock Plan

 5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
           ("WSGR"), as to legality of securities being registered

23.1       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.3       Consent of WSGR (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1       Power of Attorney (see page 5)
</TABLE>

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the items described in Item 6 of Part II of this
Registration Statement, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   5

will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, New Focus, Inc., certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of San Jose, State of California, on the
26th day of July, 2001.

                               New Focus, Inc.

                               By: /s/ WILLIAM L. POTTS, JR.
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  William L. Potts, Jr.
                                  Chief Financial Officer and Secretary



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Kenneth E. Westrick and William L. Potts, Jr. and
each of them, acting individually, as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, for him and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments)
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said
attorney to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                  DATE
------------------------------        -----------------------------------------          ------------
<S>                                   <C>                                                <C>
/s/ Kenneth E. Westrick               President and Chief Executive Officer and          July 26, 2001
------------------------------        Chairman of the Board

/s/ William L. Potts, Jr.             Chief Financial Officer and Secretary              July 26, 2001
------------------------------        (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Dr. Milton Chang                  Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ John Dexheimer                    Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ Dr. Winston Fu                    Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ R. Clark Harris                   Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                  DATE
------------------------------        -----------------------------------------          ------------
<S>                                   <C>                                                <C>

/s/ David Lee                         Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ Robert Pavey                      Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   8

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER             DOCUMENT
-------    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>
 4.1       Registrant's 2001 Stock Plan

 5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
           ("WSGR"), as to legality of securities being registered

23.1       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.3       Consent of WSGR (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1       Power of Attorney (see page 5)
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "f73579s-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 17577}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NEW FOCUS INC", "cik": "0001090215", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "330404910", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-65944", "film-number": "1689983"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5215 HELLYER AVENUE STE 100", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "951381001", "phone": "4089808088"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5215 HELLYER AVENUE STE 100", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "951381001"}}
1
           AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 26, 2001
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. ___________

================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 NEW FOCUS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE                              5215 HELLYER AVENUE                              33-0404910
 (STATE OF INCORPORATION )                SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95138-1001         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
                                 (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S
                                          PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
2001 STOCK PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                               KENNETH E. WESTRICK
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 NEW FOCUS, INC.
                               5215 HELLYER AVENUE
                         SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95138-1001
                                 (408) 284-4700
            (NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                    COPY TO:
                            ALISANDE M. ROZYNKO, ESQ.
                              MARGO M. EAKIN, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                               PALO ALTO, CA 94304
                                 (650) 493-9300

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                        PROPOSED               PROPOSED
                                                  AMOUNT                MAXIMUM                MAXIMUM            AMOUNT OF
         TITLE OF SECURITIES TO                   TO BE              OFFERING PRICE           AGGREGATE          REGISTRATION
             BE REGISTERED                     REGISTERED(1)           PER SHARE(2)         OFFERING PRICE          FEE(3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share           100,000 shares       $6.545                $654,500              $163.63
====================================================================================================================================
(1)  Amount of securities to be registered are computed in accordance with Rule
     457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as the maximum number
     of the Registrant's Common Stock issuable under the 2001 Stock Plan. This
     Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common
     Stock which become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
     recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt
     of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the
     outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share and Proposed Maximum
     Aggregate Offering Price are estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and
     Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
     solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
     based on the average of the high and low prices per share of the Common
     Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on July 10, 2001, which was
     $6.545.

(3)  The amount of the Registration fee was calculated pursuant to Section 6(b)
     of the Securities Act of 1933 which provides that the fee shall be $250 per
     $1,000,000 of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the
     securities proposed to be registered.
================================================================================
2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         There are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and into the Prospectus relating to this Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 428 the following documents and information previously filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

          1.   New Focus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000, filed with the Commission on March 29, 2001.

          2.   New Focus' current report on Form 8-K filed on January 24, 2001,
as amended March 16, 2001.

          3.   New Focus' current report on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2001.

          4.   New Focus' current report on Form 8-K filed on April 27, 2001.

          5.   New Focus' quarterly report for the quarter ended April 1, 2001
on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2001.

          6.   The description of New Focus' Common Stock contained in the New
Focus Registration Statement on Form 8-A (No. 12G) filed pursuant to Section 12
of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof, and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.
3

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL")
provides in relevant part that "[a] corporation may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful." With respect to derivative actions, Section 145(b) of the
DGCL provides in relevant part that "[a] corporation may indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor...[by reason of this service in one of the
capacities specified in the preceding sentence] against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall be adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court
shall deem proper."

         Article X of the Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides for the indemnification of directors to the fullest
extent permissible under Delaware law.

         Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws provides for the indemnification
of officers, directors and third parties acting on behalf of the Registrant if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and
not opposed to the best interest of the Registrant, and, in any criminal action
or proceeding, the indemnified party had no reason to believe his or her conduct
was unlawful.

         The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its
directors and executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in
the Registrant's Bylaws, and intends to enter into indemnification agreements
with any new directors and executive officers in the future.

         The Company carries officer and director liability insurance with
respect to certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

                                      -2-
4

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                DOCUMENT
-------    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1       Registrant's 2001 Stock Plan

 5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
           ("WSGR"), as to legality of securities being registered

23.1       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.3       Consent of WSGR (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1       Power of Attorney (see page 5)
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the items described in Item 6 of Part II of this
Registration Statement, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant

                                       -3-
5

will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.

                                      -4-
6
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, New Focus, Inc., certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of San Jose, State of California, on the
26th day of July, 2001.

                               New Focus, Inc.

                               By: /s/ WILLIAM L. POTTS, JR.
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  William L. Potts, Jr.
                                  Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Kenneth E. Westrick and William L. Potts, Jr. and
each of them, acting individually, as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, for him and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments)
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said
attorney to any and all amendments to the Registration Statement.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                  DATE
------------------------------        -----------------------------------------          ------------
/s/ Kenneth E. Westrick               President and Chief Executive Officer and          July 26, 2001
------------------------------        Chairman of the Board

/s/ William L. Potts, Jr.             Chief Financial Officer and Secretary              July 26, 2001
------------------------------        (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Dr. Milton Chang                  Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ John Dexheimer                    Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ Dr. Winston Fu                    Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ R. Clark Harris                   Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------
-5-
7
SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                  DATE
------------------------------        -----------------------------------------          ------------
/s/ David Lee                         Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------

/s/ Robert Pavey                      Director                                           July 26, 2001
------------------------------
-6-
8

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER             DOCUMENT
-------    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1       Registrant's 2001 Stock Plan

 5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
           ("WSGR"), as to legality of securities being registered

23.1       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.3       Consent of WSGR (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1       Power of Attorney (see page 5)