Thanks for the thread bump!
I use a tired old Panasonic DMC-LZ3 point-n-shoot. My photography results improved dramatically after using tips from a Saxman post from some time ago.
He has uber equipment but the basics apply to my POS camera as well.
Use a tripod. Get square to the glass. Fart around with exposure settings. Consider turning down/off flow. Experiment.
This camera seems to do best in micro mode with -2 exposure.
Thanks for the complement!!