Sony HandyCam HDR-SR10E ... help :(

[RawAlex]

Not sure about that particular camera, but many cameras will have everything from auto focus to auto gain, and that can often be their downfall.

Autogain attempts to make the image bright enough, even if you don't have enough light. Most of them time, increasing gain means they also amplify the noise, so you get a bright enough images but it either has a fine snow, a funny color, or the images may smear a bit on movement.

If the camera allows you the option, try shooting without the electronic gain (limit it to what the lens can do) and see what you get. The images will probably be too dark to use, but the quality should go way up. That is the perfect reason to get a lighting kit to help you out.

For autofocus, a couple of things: Most autofocus systems fail badly in low light. So if you don't have good lighting, the autofocus won't be very good. If you shoot with the camera outside, you will see the autofocus work much more quickly.

Also, you may have a way on that camera (not sure) to set the autofocus to "on demand only" which means that it only refocuses when you push a button or similar. That way you can keep it from cycling in and out and in and out of focus.

Improved lighting would probably solve much of your issues here.