Sony DSLR a350

Camera hasn't been in focus since I bought it 2 years ago at Best Buy.  I thought it was something I was doing wrong, bought an external shutter release, new tripod, new 70-200 lens - tried it on every combination of settings it has - and it still doesn't take half the photograph that my "silver sony" point-and-shoot cyber shot does.  I've been around and around with Sony's help people - in the Philippines - and they want $280 just to look at it. and I have to pay shipping.
Does anyone have any ideas about what I should do. I have a lot of sony accessories, extra batteries, memory cards, etc. but am ready to give Sony the heave-ho.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Mercouri wrote:
thank you. I tried it again with both lenses, and it seems it's only the lens that came with the camera.  I bought a new Tamron 70-200 and the photo looks beautiful.
Try seeing what happens if you manually focus the kit lens.
It could be either a back focus/front focus problem with the lens (many newer cameras allow this to be adjusted for on a per-lens basis), or it could be a general defect (such as a decentered element) with the lens that makes it unsharp regardless of attempts to focus.
There are a couple of methods for testing FF/BF out there, one is listed at http://focustestchart.com/chart.html
A basic test is to arrange three batteries, one slightly in front of the center one and one slightly behind.  Focus on the center one, and if the one behind it or in front of it is better focused, you may have a FF/BF issue with that lens.
*disclaimer* I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of Best Buy, Geek Squad, nor of any of their affiliate, parent, or subsidiary companies.

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