SIRUSKEY
On a side note. How do you guys get such good pictures? I have tried 2 cameras and they have both taken pants pictures.
The camera plays a part so you're not going to get good close ups from a poor camera. Equally though, it's very easy to get poor close ups from a great SLR. I use a canon 400D, usually with a fast prime 55mm lens which allows a wide aperture, usually in conjunction with a macro ring. Care is required though as wider apertures can create too narrow a depth of field, (we're talking a millimeter or two here) so this would be problematic on a vial that has a greater depth than this. The writing toward the back of the curve of the vial would be out of focus.
Essentials of a good shot are:
Place the subject on a flat surface without other clutter around or in the background.
Ensure good lighting. Avoid flash which creates glare and flash reflection. Shoot indoors with lots of diffused light. Avoid direct sunlight.
Use a tripod if available.
Use a shutter release if available.
Get to grips with depth of field by adjusting aperture to ensure good focus of the whole subject
Don't get too hung up about not getting in too close to fill the viewfinder with your subject. Your lens may have trouble focusing at such short distances. Assuming you have a reasonably high mp count, you can always aggressively crop the shot which will blow the subject up to a good size without overly compromising quality.