Just looked that Sony up on dpreview. It indeed has an APS-C format sensor, so it pays to set the aperture to f./22. You can try the same shot with f./16 to look of the front and rear are still sharp. The lowest ISO-setting on your camera is 200, use that. As already written above, it gives you the least noise-induced artifacts.
Use a STURDY tripod, not the cheapest you can find. Using the timer function is indeed a great tip, or the remote control if your cam has that. Shooting in RAW is very good because it gives you control of the final photo. Normally RAW is just that; the raw data off the sensor. However, Sony is known to use some form of (lossy) compression on their RAW files. RAW files always need to be sharpened as part of the digital workflow in programs such as Camera RAW or Lightroom. Although JPEG's have less "bandwith" to play with the white balance and exposure in such programs; if you are happy with the results straight from the camera, there is no reason not to use JPEG's from the camera.
If you decide to tweak your photos in RAW before converting them to JPEG; don't forget to calibrate the screen of your computer! Standard TFT-screens are always way too blue!
http://spyder.datacolor.com/display-calibration/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-nex-f3/sony-nex-f3A.HTM
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/macro-lenses.htm