Optio 330RS macro problem

Hello, I am new to this forum.
I work for a small company and we use a Pentio 330RS, for our product quality records, mostly in 'Macro' mode (i.e. the best "close-up" shots).
The camera has performed well but recently was borrowed for "home" use by an employee. Now it is back I am having real difficulty in obtaining the crispness of shots we had been used to. In macro mode the focussing 'mechanism' really struggles to work and even when you get the "green light" (with shutter release half depressed) the eventual shot is out of focus. It has always worked well prior to the "borrow".
Could the camera have 'not travelled well' I wonder- there are no physical signs of the camera having been dropped at all. Could it simply be wear 'n tear? The camera is 12 to 14 months old. [/b]

When you lend out a camera, you have no idea what has happened to it whilst it has been away....but on the other hand I do successfully buy and use second hand cameras, and I have no idea of their history either!

However, it is always possible for a fault to develop in anything at any time, so the answer is probably that you need to return it for repair, or, if that is not economical, then replace.

If you do replace, considering your specific requirement, it gives an ideal opportunity to review the current state of the market and see if Pentax are now offering an improved camera for you.