Canon GL1 & GL2 MiniDV Camcorders Comparative Review
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- Both the Canon GL1 and GL2 series MiniDV camcorders aimed to blur the line between professional and consumer grade offerings for video recording. Both models had a very long production run, and for good reason!
They might not be HD, but the quality of the video and audio is exceptional. The quality of the internal stereo microphones rivals that of PCM field audio recorders. Both camcorder share many features such as: the capability to record 16:9 video with 16 bit audio, two independent recording and zoom control, and connections for external microphones and headphones. The GL2 has a few more advanced features which the GL1 lacks: manual microphone gain controls, audio level meters, and an SD card slot for still photos, just to name a few.
Each model has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. One feature I really fancy is the hybrid manual focus ring found on the GL1; if at any particular point does the camcorder struggle to automatically focus, you can simply adjust the focus ring to manually correct the focus.
I originally intended for this to be two separate videos, but soon realized such a thing would be rather redundant as there already is an abundance of review videos showing each specific model.
*Bonus: a quick demonstration of the Canon DM-50 stereo shotgun microphone is included with the price of admission.
Picked mine up on ebay for $200. These old standard def MiniDV camcorders are better then any of the HD cameras on the market today for us who film action sports like skateboarding and bmx. Fish eye on my GL2s 4:3 ratio makes a fisheye on a HD camera look like a wide angle lens. While the world progresses to HD camcorders, these still are gold to us who love the old classic look of a huge fisheye, and a good solid camera feel with a good handle for what we do.
I just bought a canon gl2 for $6 at goodwill!!!
Yes it did
I recently got a Canon gl1, and so far I am loving. Got it for $30 on ebay with the only exception that the tape mechanism being broken but have figured out a way to use it without tapes
would love to know your set up with the tapeless ?
Just got one of these for free from my film professor! Really excited to try it out
Got yourself an ancient fossil! This was the first camcorder I had purchased and I loved it. I wish I still had it :( Really easy to use, cool look and good standard definition. One thing I really DO NOT miss is using mini DV tapes. I may purchase this camera again just to have it.
i have 4 of them for sale 317-710-4786. Recently bought all new equipment,
I've had one of these units probably since around 2001 and hadn't used it in years. Couldn't, for the life of me, remember where the VCR controls were until I watched your video and saw/remembered they were in the handle under that flap so a big thanks!
Very nice! These are probably what the BBC and others used around 2000 to make documentaries. I remember one documentary featuring members of the Jackson family. The documentary makers were trying to arrange an interview with Michael, and one member of his family seemed to think that these people from the BBC were somehow not serious because of the size of their camera!
I suppose they always expect a big honkin' camera like the ones the news teams have. Speaking of, those older broadcast cameras must be devalued somewhat by now.
I'm thinking about going back to these older formats. I use to own a JVC mini DV that I bought new back in 2005. It served me good for 8-9 years then stored it away. A few years back I decided to try it out again. I always kept the batteries charged during the time of storage. Well after running a cleaning tape I noticed it started an annoying clicking sounds at playback as well as in record mode. I thought it wasn't worth getting it repaired so I bought another one close to the same model on eBay. Worked fine for a few months then started that annoying clicking sounds and audio went out. No more JVC for me. Might look into these Canon models. Lucky me I found at a local thrift store a mint JVC SR-VS30 Super VHS/DV combo for $10.00 with the remote. Took it home cleaned both deck heads and works like a champ. I finally got to see what was on some of my mini DV tapes that I forgot to transfer to DVD. Now to search for a nice DV camcorder better quality and less issues.
I bought a ZR850 off off eBay a couple weeks ago. Really good quality for SD video thanks to the 1MP CCD!
Those are beautiful camcorders. It's a shame they're so unnecessarily expensive to acquire.
The mode switch is similar to Canon's digital cameras - Tv means shutter priority - you set the shutter speed, and the camcorder will automatically set the aperture according for correct exposure. Av means aperture priority - the opposite.
So were you recording this in the normal interlaced mode, I assume? Could you possibly make a video comparing the interlaced and progressive modes in the future?
What was with the color bars at the end?
The shotgun mic in Stereo 2 mode sounds great! My Canon HV20 has an Advanced Accessory Shoe, so I might get one for it.
The GL2 is on my troll list, thanks for the review! On the hot shoe of the GL2, it will use a standard Canon speedlight for photo's. For proper white balance, read your owners manual as they kinda differ on technique, but generally you'll use either a %50 grey card, white card or piece of white paper, fill the screen and then adjust your WB, not always do we have such items at hand or handy as they may be in the car several blocks away, in that scenario, I'll just aim the camera at the light's source and take my reading from there, I do this with both still and video.
I find it funny that the GL1 uses the same battery as my XF100 (HD and about 11 years newer). I have so many of these batteries thanks to various TV broadcast misadventures in college a few years ago so I could probably get one with absolutely nothing included and test it with one of those.
I’ve had the XM2 about 3 years now and it still works like new. They do both go for too much money though. I didn’t pay too much for mine in the end though as they sold as fully working with zero issues and it does as FireWire is blown sadly. I have other units to capture the tapes but still it wasn’t listed as such so got some money back luckily so overall super happy because as I say still works great. Microphone is so good onboard and inputs to my vinyl player lets me record great audio via the 3.5mm jack 👍
Honestly, listening to the difference between the stereo 1 and stereo 2 modes seems to be like the comparison between the mid/side mic module and XY mic module on my Zoom F1 and Zoom H6 recorders. Kind of impressive that they can pull that off in a little shotgun module.
Just picked up one for just over $800. Everything appears to be working although I have not plugged it into a computer yet. I'm waiting for an SD card with firewire.
Photojunky's Drone Zone Vlog i just paid 120 for mine however it is an xm1
@@Greaner762
800 is a bit much
120 better deal. Awesome !!!!!
i love song jump
@stereophonicsstuff
I actually managed to snag a Canon GL1 just a few days ago, and I got just about everything in the original box, no case or other accessories though. In any case, I'm actually new to DV, and I'm glad to see it's very similar to VHS in terms of operation, however, I did not receive a firewire cable with the camera, only an S-Video cable, so it's lucky I have a capture card and a 3.5 to RCA adapter. At the moment, I'm trying to use the playback function of the camera, and while it does work, the screen remains blue with an image of a DV cassette turning. I read in the manual that this could be due to dirty play heads, but it says that the screen should just be blank blue, not with the cassette... either I am misunderstanding the meaning of "blank" or I am doing something wrong, as I have tried recording onto a tape and playing back with no visible results, and I can't figure out why. If you could give me any information, I'd appreciate it.
I borrowed a GL 2 a few years ago to use as a second camera. If I recall correctly, doesn't the camera turn off after 10 or 15 minutes if it's not recording to tape? I want to buy a couple of them to do a 3 camera shoot using a switcher. I don't want to roll tape if I don't have to. Does it in fact turn off if left idle? thx
Damn, I guess I got real lucky. I got a Canon Gl2 in almost perfect condition that came with the battery for $179 and free shipping
Keep it and care for it as it will do nothing but increase in value. So many of the used GL2s have worn bearing that cause loud humming in the built-in microphone.
Got mine from a family who rarely used it for 70 bucks.
@@Slightlyevil
Neat. and neat username hehe
A bit fast video. But you are awesome !!!! Loved it !!!!
Van Halen rocks love that song cool video
hey! my camcorder has a full blue screen how do i clean the video heads?
its a canon gl1
Joe Mendes try a minidv head cleaner
@@veaangel
Full blue screen? Thats normal. Record something then play it back.
These are Japanese. But it's a transnational corporation Canon. Consumer oriented.
I have had one since the 90s. Can you recommend an external lav mic that would work with this so I can get close up sound like for a news desk? Is my only option setting up a mixer that goes into my video tecorder?
I can't recommend anything off the top of my head, since I never used one with this camcorder. However, I did have an Audio Technica lapel mic that came with a ridiculously long cord so that you can be on camera, have the mic clipped to your shirt, and still have enough room to move around. No need for a mixer or anything like that. It wasn't all that expensive either. I'm sure there's quite a few wireless lavalier microphones that you simply connect the receiver to the camera's mic in jack.
@@stereophonicstuff Thank you for the excellent advice. I will look into that. Have a good night.
Hi, do you know how to remove the lens on an XM1? I need to clean some damp and I'm struggling! Thanks
U can’t
i'm not sure which one I should get. which one would you recommend?
The GL2's picture quality is better in my opinion, though the microphone of the GL1 has better stereo separation and fidelity.
What's the video resolution on this camera?
1080i
@@Deaddeaddeadeadeadeadead wrong
can it take a sd card?
+Tim Ritzel Of the two, only the Canon GL2 can accept SD cards for recording still images not videos.
@@stereophonicstuff
Wow only for still images. Shows how dated it is. Hmmm.
The mini dv is neat and is like working with " film " compared to video.
As video compared to digital cards now. Yeah I know about the resolution.
Great videos you're making love it. Great video cameras.
can you still use these cameras to this day I just want to know
Of course. You need only the requisite MiniDV tape, charged battery, and a working camcorder!
@@stereophonicstuff
Awesome.