well it should , dident you try it right away . focus on some thing in your house , a close light, tv, then turn your focus ring way out of focus then touch your shutter focus . if you got that little switch up , it should focus if it's
in the right spot
now that other problem the black sleeve . I think you just have WB setting all wrong . or over exposer ? is it always in the same place if it is , it could be the sensor . but it looks more like a wrong . have you been in the settings
fooling around with your red, green,blue , etc settings ?

strange , i have the the same len's , it's the cheapest one that nikon puts out
under $200 . and it focus instantly . there is another f 1.8 they make but it's
over $300 or more . and the people who test these things said to get the cheap as there is no difference in the optics. the only difference is in the build
but mine been used a lot , and it will last me for years . I used it this mourning . it's a 50mm f1.8 NIKKOR D 1: 1.8D it's on a D 90 camera
does yours have that little switch with the two red dots on the right hand side
near the top if it does you may have that set wrong .