Systems, devices and methods with improved wave front sensing and detection capabilities are described. One example wave front sensor includes a lenslet array that receives an incoming wave front, and a mask that is positioned at a focal plane of the lenslet array to receive and filter a Fourier transformed wave front that is produced by the first lenslet array at the focal plane. Each section of the mask receives light from a corresponding lens of the lenslet array and is configured to produce a reference wave front and to allow a portion of the Fourier transformed wave front to be transmitted or reflected. The wave front sensor also includes a sensor array having a plurality of light sensitive detectors that is positioned to receive the two wave fronts and to detect an intensity value representative of a phase of the incoming wave front.