Canon GL2

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 55 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 8 stars

  Amazing value and quality

  by on February 3, 2003

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  Summary: I've had the GL2 for a month now and it's awesome. The quality of the images is outstanding. And it's interesting how the test shots I made ...

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  Summary: I've had the GL2 for a month now and it's awesome. The quality of the images is outstanding. And it's interesting how the test shots I made on the superior chip sized Sony VX-2000 were no match for the smaller chip GL2. This is one time where size is really no indicator of quality. The Sony should have blasted the GL2 off the map with its larger chips. The GL2 also simply handles better and once you get used to the menu it's very easy to set up. Manual focus is easy and adjusting aperture is just a flip of a switch away.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 5 stars

  The GL2 Suffers From Red Push, And Soft Focus

  by on January 1, 2003

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  Summary: Would be a nice camcorder if not for the red push. If you like pink skin tones get one. If you prefer true skin tones, Opt for the VX2000, or ...

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  Summary: Would be a nice camcorder if not for the red push. If you like pink skin tones get one. If you prefer true skin tones, Opt for the VX2000, or if your very lucky, a GL1. The GL2 is a disappointment.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 10 stars

  I Chose Canon Over the Sony

  by on December 27, 2002

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  Summary: My first video camera was a Canon VC-20, backpack and all. My new Sony VAIO laptop had me leaning towards the Sony's VX-2000. They are priced the same, so ...

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  Summary: My first video camera was a Canon VC-20, backpack and all. My new Sony VAIO laptop had me leaning towards the Sony's VX-2000. They are priced the same, so after checking them both out online and at the stores, I went with the Canon. My Christmas videos came out cryst al clear inside, at night, without any additional lighting. Audio was perfect. I am challenged trying to use the Firewire from the Canon to the Vaio. I am still plugging away trying to get Windows XP to recognize the camera. It could be the other USB ports in use. The Canon comes with a Firewire/USB connector. I should probably pull out a straight Firewire to Firewire connector. I do not think I'll return it for the Sony, even though I have two weeks to think about it.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 6 stars

  Sony VX-2000 wins over GL2

  by on December 12, 2002

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  Summary: I read numerous online reviews regarding the Canon GL2 and Sony VX-2000, and the Canon GL2 seems like the winner in this close race. After owning the GL2 for a ...

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  Summary: I read numerous online reviews regarding the Canon GL2 and Sony VX-2000, and the Canon GL2 seems like the winner in this close race. After owning the GL2 for a week, I was so disappointed with the low-light performance and digital still feature that I returned the GL2 and bought a Sony VX-2000 instead. After using the Sony for a week also, I am glad I did. In my opinion, the Sony VX-2000 wins between the two. Don't get me wrong, the GL2 is one sweet camera, but I feel that since the pricepoint of the GL2 is nearly identical to the VX-2000 which has much better low-light performance, the canon was just not for me. (I do a lot of low-light shooting on Halloween each year, and this was a feature of paramount concern). On the whole, I found that in a normal house at night with typical lamp lighting the Canon GL2 had to be full open on apature and +18db gain to achieve good exposure. This produced considerable picture noise. In contrast, the Sony VX-2000 can handle the same scene at full open apeture with no gain. This is due to 1/3" CCDs like you would find in Canon's much more expensive XL1. Here are the GL2s advantages vs VX-2000: === -Better optics (better color due to flourite, 20:1 vs. 12:1) -pixel shift combined with higher pixel count on CCDs seems to offer a bit more clarity, but this is arguable. (GL2 410,000 pixels/VX-2000 380,000 pixels) -Lighter weight, slightly smaller helps long hand held shooting. -30 fps progressive scan (Sony only offers 15fps progressive scan, shame on them) GL2s disadvantages vs VX-2000: -smaller CCDs (1/4" vs 1/3") which mean much more video grain in low light -more plastic-y feel, Sony is more metal-ish, robust feeling. -tape eject/transport on Sony seems more robust (I have no data on this, just casual observation) -control layout seems more ergonomic, less fumbling while recording. -manual zoom ring! All in all, I feel that the GL2 has better features, one cannot deny the superior better optics Canon has provided. If you plan on always shooting daylight footage, or using feature film style lighting, the GL2 is your cam. However, the 1/3" CCDs the Sony VX-2000 offers made the grade for me. I do shooting at night, and do not want to have to resort to sun-guns. For me, what good is an extra 200 mils on the lens (35mm conversion) if the picture is full of gain noise? I hope this helps others purchase the correct camera for them! Remove "antispam" from my email address to drop me a line.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 8 stars

  Superb Video/Audio

  by on October 17, 2002

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  Summary: Recipe for success in the GL2: 20x optical zoom L-series pro lens, 410k pixels/CCD with pixel shift, excellent mic, no hot pixels on my GL2's CCDs, low-light is ...

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  Summary: Recipe for success in the GL2: 20x optical zoom L-series pro lens, 410k pixels/CCD with pixel shift, excellent mic, no hot pixels on my GL2's CCDs, low-light is great, this thing see better in low light than me, and build quality that inspires one to use and use it for years to come. And, video and audio results that will hold up to your satisfaction for a long time. Why mess around with the average palmcorder for 1500 bucks? Get one of these.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  What Can I Say?

  by on October 15, 2002

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  Summary: Outstanding Quality! We use ours for broadcast on a local cable-access station and for Industrial Development & CofC work. I can't get enough of it. I use it for ...

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  Summary: Outstanding Quality! We use ours for broadcast on a local cable-access station and for Industrial Development & CofC work. I can't get enough of it. I use it for both A/V and DV work - unreal! If I had to complain, it would be in three areas. 1. Too light - I sometimes think that I am going to break it. 2. Auto-focus a little goofy in action shots or high-contrast. 3. AV out jack does not look sturdy. But, well worth the money! Great! Great! Great!

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 8 stars

  I have had it for four years. It performs as well today as the day I got it. Excellent video.

  by on February 17, 2005

  Pros: Excellent Video. Most of my viewers think it is TV.

  Cons: Nothing major.

  1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  Great Camera

  by r_krall on July 29, 2010

  Pros: This camera is great for all kinds of applications, its lightweight, compact, and shoots awesome video and still shots.

  Cons: It is not cheap.

  Summary: The bottom line, this camera is great, i do suggest getting it used from http://ww.onequality.com so it is more affordable.

  Summary: The bottom line, this camera is great, i do suggest getting it used from http://ww.onequality.com so it is more affordable.

• 3 stars

  Great video not reliable at all.

  by pattiann1970 on March 24, 2010

  Pros: Awesome video and easy to use once you read the manual.

  Cons: Major issue with tape deck getting stuck and not ejecting the tape. Not good when you are shooting a wedding and you can not change tapes. There are ton of similar complaints online and Canon has not addressed it as of yet.

  Summary: Although this camera has superb video and ease of use I can not recommend it at this time. If Canon could fix the issue with the tape deck getting stuck ...

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  Summary: Although this camera has superb video and ease of use I can not recommend it at this time. If Canon could fix the issue with the tape deck getting stuck I would highly recommend this camera and actually buy a few more.

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• 9 stars

  Best I have owned in this price range.

  by 1rockman on July 23, 2009

  Pros: Tough, dependable, excellant image quality.

  Cons: Image stabilization lacks. On Board mic is very limited

  Summary: My wife and I shoot video documentaries in Third World locations for NGO's and have relied heavily on this camera because of its small size and wieght. I have ...

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  Summary: My wife and I shoot video documentaries in Third World locations for NGO's and have relied heavily on this camera because of its small size and wieght. I have exposed this camera to sand storms, mud, torential rains, etc. without a single failure. However, I get the unit cleaned at Canon after every trip as I do all my gear. It take care of it, it takes care of me. I added a nice, mid line shotgun mic to the mix and the audio is now A+. I would recomend this little gem to anyone shooting down and dirty, ENG style video and demands hardcore dependability.

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