A proper shutter button on most cell phones and every point-and-shoot camera I've used has been two-stage. Meaning you lightly hold the button until the camera focuses, then you press it the rest of the way to take the picture.

If you want a good picture after jamming the button (no autofocus), you need more light (your pics are all too dark, and the picture with the turtle was being washed out by the front-facing light coming from the door).

I do not think this is a case of defective equipment.