My pictures are coming out either too dark or not focused

Unfortunately, most auto-focus systems require some light to focus with. My cameras have a "focus assist" light that throws a grid of lines out so it can focus. My wife typically covers this light with her hands, and so can't get it to focus in the dark. Check for that.

I see your camera has a focus area. If you have a subject with enough contrasting parts in this area, the focusing should work fine.
You must know that not every subject can be focused on as quick or as good as you would like. If there are little contrasting lines in the subject, or when it is getting dark or there are dark and light parts in the focus area, that don't belong together, every camera can have problems to focus correct. Changing the ISO settings won't change anything for the auto focus.
But special when you try to shoot in almost dark places, you camera will have lots of work to focus and in most cases it won't work at all.

You could try to place an object with light and dark lines, on the same distance as the object you want to picture. Then by pressing the shutter half, when focusing on the object with much contrast, you can look if the camera can focus. If it is in focus, keep the shutter pressed half way down, while moving to the object you want to shoot a picture of. Once you have every thing in the frame as you want it, press the shutter complete.

Open your aperture or lower your shutter speed. That should let more light in to the camera.

Hello
Sometimes you may have turned the screen control counter clockwise more than needed. Just turn it clockwise a little more and come to the point there is some light on the screen, at the same time looking for rertrace lines, and just turn counterclockwise again to just turn off the lines if any.
You must do this placing the TV on a dark room, then only you can set this point correctly.
Note that the screen and focus controls are interactive, and sometimes the focus control should be adjusted to a little to get the proper focus.
You can do it I'm sure. Go on. If any doubts please don't hesitate to come over us. Ok.
Take care when you work on dark.

Sounds like the aperture inside the lens is broken. You shuld send it in for service.

first GET TO AUTO MODE WITH FULL AUTO
if this doesn't work try going to manual and setting the exposure up to +1 or +2

On several camera the ccd is sensitive to bright and causes the images to come out very dark or out of focus because the auto focus sensor is being blinded. Try taking pictures with you back towards the sun and try turning off your flash this some times helps out. I hope this helps you and happy photo taking.

hi melissa,
your problem is the focusing areas, im sorry that I do not know how to turn it off, the rectangle you see is the area is focusing on, and the darkness is what the camera doesnt focus on, try reading the manual, or turning it off yourself.

Correct ! One set is for RGB focus and the other set is for
RGB screen voltage............................T.

The focus mechanizm does nee to 'see' what it is looking at. Check you manual see if there is a setting for fixing the focus so thatr the camara can shoot from near- about 2m to infinity without the focus operating.