That's a real hard question to answer. Kind of like asking what kind of glass should I use and what setting should I have my torch on to make the best beads.
What makes the question hard is there are so many variables that affect the outcome of any pictures. Besides the human factor (which is always a factor no matter how much we know or don't know) so much depends on lighting and exposure and even the glass you are photographing. The camera really doesn't matter that much since someone that understands everything else could use a pin hole camera and get a decent picture. Maybe not National Geographic quality, but still decent.
The simple answer to your question would be to put the camera on manual, set the fstop for f11, put the camera on a tripod, get it as close as you can so that the bead is in focus and the view finder or LCD is filled with the bead. Then set the shutter speed so that it works with the fstop and lighting to give you a properly exposed image. Since the shutter speed could be in the seconds, that's why you need the tripod.
Of course this doesn't take into consideration placement of the lights so your beads are evenly lit but you don't have a bunch of white highlights reflecting back your lights and hiding the detail in your beads. Nor a dozen other things. What would make it easier is if we knew what you knew already. It might be easier to people to suggest how to improve what you are getting rather than give you the magic settings for perfect shots. Most photographers guard their magic settings since they are so hard to get, so maybe you can show some examples of what you are getting now?
Of the two cameras you have, does either one let you do manual settings? If so, that is the one that will probably give you the best results for images that you can show on the web.
Mike
Most standard Camra settings..for Dummies
