whats the main features that the canon gl2 has that the lesser ones don't have?

"We can't stop here... this is bat country"

3ccd chip is quite notable.

for while, maybe not anymore, it had the highest optical zoom for a consumer camera (12x).

and the 3CCDs make it sexy.

the GL2 can get straight XLR inputs and i think you can set the timecode on it. and a bars and tone generator? i think so. bars and tone is important for calibration and consistency.

the GL2 requires an XLR adapter, it has no on-board XLR ports or mixer. sorry.

it does indeed have bars/tone.

i hate to say this, but as an owner of a GL2, i recommend against it if you can get your hands on a DVC-80, DVX-100, or VX-2100 instead.

i have used all four cameras extensively, and although all of them lack in some way, the GL2 has the most noticable problems.

first, the CCD's are the smallest of the bunch. every other camera uses 1/3" CCD's, except the GL2, which uses 1/4" CCDs. This is the biggest issue I have. it has more pixels than the VX-2100, but it isnt even noticable because the CCD's on the VX are larger and the image looks better. the GL2 is also the worst in low-light. the GL2 is limited to 6-lux, whereas the DVC and DVX are at 3, and the VX-2100 is 1 lux. for instance, i was at Macworld a couple weeks ago to film it. we had a DVX-100 and a GL2. the footage from the DVX-100 was beautiful (the film is available on macteens.com). the GL2, however, didnt work very well; not enough light for it. (this was at shutter speed 1/30, aperature open all the way, no gain.) it has the worst low-light sensitivity.

most people dont care that much about low-light, but then we hit the other end of the spectrum: lots of light. every time i step outside to film, i need to place an ND filter (and sometimes 2) in order to film outside. this is not including the onboard, so outside i have 2-3 ND filters in action at any given time. this is either at 1/30 or 1/60 shutter speed, with the aperature open to about 2.8. yes, you can close the iris. but you lose depth-of-field. yes, you can raise the shutter speed. but you lose the filmish look and you get strobing. although this is true for most cameras, the problem is that the GL2 is the only one of the bunch that doesn't supply a decent on-board ND. i have never had to use an ND filter outdoors with the DVX, because it has good on-board filters.

there is frame mode on the GL2, but keep in mind that this is a fake 30p, it isnt really 30p. it also decreases resolution, and it is noticable. i wanted to believe it didnt, but it does. the dvx100 has native 24p which is much better, and the other 2 cameras dont have frame mode or 24p or 30p, but the image quality is so much higher than i dont mind at all.

the color saturation is quite good on the GL2, but the cine-like colors on the DVC-80 and the DVX-100 are unbeatable for the moment.

the major test of the GL2: actually showing a film with it. i played a film from a DVX100 on a 42" high-definition TV. it looked great. not good, GREAT. no noticable pixellation at all, very sharp and crisp. played the same movie from the GL2 (it was used as a Camera B on the movie) on the same TV, and it didn't look nice. pixellated. too grainy. thats what the lower rez and the smaller chips gets you. even the dvc80 on interlaced looked more like film than the gl2 in progressive because of the cine-like colors. and i've done these tests several times, its very consistent.

the GL2 is not a bad camera. it is MUCH BETTER than most of these consumer cameras.... but its not the best. and since it is usually thrown into the range of cameras such as the DVX-100, the DVC-80, and the VX-2100, then you must know the truth that it is not as good as any of these cameras.

by the way, the dvc80 is even $100 CHEAPER than the GL2 on b&h. the other cameras arent too far off.

sorry to have to write all this. i thought my GL2 (purchased last summer) would be a great investment, but compared to these other cameras we have at the current moment, it really isnt as great anymore.

you video guys need to drop that filmish look fetish. it's video, get it to look like good video.

insomniac is right, the GL2 needs an adapter, and now that i remember, it goes on the flash shoe, so it's really wobbly and could break off if you jolted it hard enough (or someone tripped over the cord). i remember thinking how janky that was. although i'm sure the other XLR to 1/8" adaper work on the GL2, right?


insomniacs points are true, but i like using the GL1 becaues it's small, light, and can stand up to abuse (i wouldn't feel comfortable putting the DVX through the stuff i've put the GL1 through) but that's because i don't really shoot films with video, i shoot concerts and stupid **** we kids like to do in our youth, so you know, you need to be able to have it on the go.

it looks like you're doing your research though, so that's always good. see if you can actually get your hands on some of these cameras before you buy them, i think if insomniac had taped even just a few seconds on each before buying, he would've noticed the difference.