Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder
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Manufacturer: Canon Video
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New from $2450.59
List price $2,999.99
- Professional-quality MiniDV camcorder and still camera with 3 CCD lens
- 20x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 100x) and image stabilizer
- 2.5-inch LCD with 270-degree rotation
- Save to MiniDV tape or MMC/SD card (8 MB SD card included)
- Record for up to 65 minutes on one battery charge
Product Description:
The Canon GL2 (like its predecessor, the GL1, and its big brother, the XL1) is helping to blur the line between consumer and professional video equipment. This camcorder borrows most of those cameras' professional-quality components and puts them into a more compact, affordable camera. Though it's small enough to carry around and doesn't cost much more than a top-of-the-line consumer camcorder, the GL2 produces such high-quality results that it could be used as a broadcast video camera. Lens The GL2 maximizes the capability of the DV format by using a three-CCD system, assigning a separate CCD to each primary color (red, blue, and green). A beam-splitting prism precisely separates the light passing through the lens into individual color components, and each is sent to its own CCD. To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the green CCD (which contains 60 percent of the picture detail) half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This shift allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000-pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 square microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competing camcorders. This increased size increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low-light situations. All this results in outstanding detail, with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end video production. The GL2 also incorporates a 20x Professional L-Series fluorite optical zoom lens, which is equivalent to 39.5-790mm, as well as a 100x digital zoom. Audio The GL2's omni-directional microphone is designed to deliver realistic stereo sound. Using the GL2's advanced accessory shoe expands your audio options. Audio can be recorded in 16-bit mode on two channels on one track. Alternatively, audio can be record in 12-bit mode, where the audio track is divided into two, and two channels of audio are recorded onto one track, with the other left over for audio dubbing. Digital Stills You can turn your GL2 into a still camera by switching to 1.7-megapixel photo mode and capturing high-resolution still images onto the camcorder's MultiMedia/Secure Digital card. (One 8 MB Secure Digital card is included with the GL2.) The full-frame images are free from time-lag blur. A six-blade circular iris, as found on Canon's top-of-the-line XL1 and XL1S models, is used for professional exposure control, helping to deliver stunning video and still photos. Inputs and Outputs The GL2 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection to download still photos. The GL2 is designed to handle two types of analog input and output: using audio/video cables (composite) or S-video. Both connections are on the camera back. More Features Three shooting modes: normal movie mode, digital photo mode, and the cinema-like frame movie mode. The Custom Key function lets you create and save your own custom settings so your common shooting modes can be readily duplicated. Digital effects are offered for a greater imaging variety, including fader, sepia, strobe motion, and black and white. With the Interval Timer function, you can record for a selected time with a selected interval--convenient for nature observations such as flowers or sunsets. MiniDV Format The Canon GL2 digital video camcorder uses the standard MiniDV cassette, producing the highest quality video possible from nonbroadcast equipment. The MiniDV format standard delivers more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution. And, because it records both video and audio as digital data, this information can be transferred--without any loss of picture or audio quality--to a computer for editing, then transferred back to DV tape, without a reduction in either picture or audio quality.
From Digital Living Today Upon its introduction, the Canon XL-1 immediately established itself as the standard-bearer of the digital video revolution. The good news is that now Canon has introduced a line of lower-priced consumer cameras that incorporate many of the innovations developed for the XL-1 at a significantly reduced price. Introducing the GL2: a 3 CCD camera that is sure to produce footage with a crisp picture, accurate color, and a wide dynamic range. Utilizing a broadcast TV technology called Pixel Shift,... read more
Lens
The GL2 maximizes the capability of the DV format by using a three-CCD system, assigning a separate CCD to each primary color (red, blue, and green). A beam-splitting prism precisely separates the light passing through the lens into individual color components, and each is sent to its own CCD.
To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the green CCD (which contains 60 percent of the picture detail) half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This shift allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000-pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 square microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competing camcorders. This increased size increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low-light situations.
All this results in outstanding detail, with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end video production.
The GL2 also incorporates a 20x Professional L-Series fluorite optical zoom lens, which is equivalent to 39.5-790mm, as well as a 100x digital zoom.
Audio
The GL2's omni-directional microphone is designed to deliver realistic stereo sound. Using the GL2's advanced accessory shoe expands your audio options. Audio can be recorded in 16-bit mode on two channels on one track. Alternatively, audio can be record in 12-bit mode, where the audio track is divided into two, and two channels of audio are recorded onto one track, with the other left over for audio dubbing.
Digital Stills
You can turn your GL2 into a still camera by switching to 1.7-megapixel photo mode and capturing high-resolution still images onto the camcorder's MultiMedia/Secure Digital card. (One 8 MB Secure Digital card is included with the GL2.) The full-frame images are free from time-lag blur. A six-blade circular iris, as found on Canon's top-of-the-line XL1 and XL1S models, is used for professional exposure control, helping to deliver stunning video and still photos.
Inputs and Outputs
The GL2 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection to download still photos. The GL2 is designed to handle two types of analog input and output: using audio/video cables (composite) or S-video. Both connections are on the camera back.
More Features
- Three shooting modes: normal movie mode, digital photo mode, and the cinema-like frame movie mode.
- The Custom Key function lets you create and save your own custom settings so your common shooting modes can be readily duplicated.
- Digital effects are offered for a greater imaging variety, including fader, sepia, strobe motion, and black and white.
- With the Interval Timer function, you can record for a selected time with a selected interval--convenient for nature observations such as flowers or sunsets.
MiniDV Format
The Canon GL2 digital video camcorder uses the standard MiniDV cassette, producing the highest quality video possible from nonbroadcast equipment. The MiniDV format standard delivers more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution. And, because it records both video and audio as digital data, this information can be transferred--without any loss of picture or audio quality--to a computer for editing, then transferred back to DV tape, without a reduction in either picture or audio quality.Average Customer Rating: 
Comment: Great for filmmakers Rating:
I own this camera, and it's my best friend. Well not really, but it's the most amazing camera I've ever had. You get what you pay for, and you get a lot from this camera.
This is however, NOT a camera that the general public should buy. It's far to expensive, and really wouldn't be worth it to someone who will be using this for filming say a birthday party. There are many features on this camera, which make it as wonderful as it is, but these features would likely be unused by someone new to video cameras. So if you are in this boat, save your money and get a different camera.
What's great about it? The image quality is better than anything I've seen before. With 3CCD, it's good. Unlike the XL-1S, the GL2 has a 2.5 inch color LCD. However, I rarely use this. It takes up more battery power, and you can't see it when there's sunlight. I love the audio controls, and how it's not only stereo microphone, but you can control the levels of your left and right audio, right there, on the camera. I love to convert analogue video into digitial video, and it's almost too easy using the GL2. It's great for getting your older stuff into a digital format, and being able to easily get it onto your computer.
What's bad about it? Really not a whole lot. The 1.7-megapixel photo mode is really uneeded. 1.7-megapixels really isn't that good. The included 8MB card for these pictures isn't enough. If you're going to want to take digital pictures, then get a digital still camera, and don't use the GL2 as a still camera.
But I can't stress enough that if you aren't going to use this for more professional projects, then you really shouldn't get this camera.
Comment: Canon Gl2 Problems I Had!! Rating:
Pros: Excellent image quality and color fidelity; 20X optical zoom; two-channel audio control; 1.7-megapixel still image capture; lightweight.
Cons: Too many controls per button; onboard microphone is omnidirectional; mediocre battery life with included cell.
Summary: An ok camera, just not what I expected. I own a Sony VX2000 and PD-150 we use in video production of homes for sale. We bought the GL2 because of the fact it was about a half pound lighter and a little smaller than the Sony cameras. The first problem is when you attache the small 3 watt Canon light, the drain on the battery is too great and shuts down the camer before the battery is one half way drained. Even with the biggest battery that Canon makes the battery life is short with their fill light. The second problem was when the telephoto zoom button failed after 70 minutes of use, making the auto zoom function useless. Now I must send the camera back to Canon only after 20 days of use. The mail order place would only take it back within 15 days. The third problem is the low light noise is a little worse on the camera when compared to the Sony VX2000 or Sony PD-150. It is not a big difference, but it is noticeable. I never had a reason to mail in a Sony camera for repairs, even after years of use. It's a dissapointment to have a new camera fail in so many ways
Comment: Canon GL2 / XM2 bad camera - WARNING!! Rating:
Great camera when I first got it, I felt like I had got something really good - so I should have, it cost me a whole load of cash.
Just after the warranty had expired, I find out the hard way that the whole line of Canon camcorders have a serious problem with the tape transport system causing the warning message "REMOVE THE CASSETTE" appearing in big red letters on the LCD. Camera will not function until expensive repairs have been carried out.(...)
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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