Canon GL2 Camcorder Review
Cole Media Group
Canon GL2 MiniDV prosumer Canon's long-awaited replacement for the popular GL1 camera. The GL2 has an MSRP of $ 2799, but you should be able to find them on the street for about $ 2400 or more. With the GL2, Canon has a lot of changes, in fact, the goal is shown to be identical to the GL1, an update is questionable. The most obvious comparison for the GL2 is the Sony DCR-TRV950 so during the review, ICompare the GL2, the DCR-TRV950. All in all, the GL2 is a great camera for video recording, is the most control over your image, making it the perfect choice for the serious video.
Video Performance
It set the number of pixels on the CCD by a quarter of an inch with the GL2 has increased from 270K to 410K. Although a lot of that has contributed to the resolution is still, I believe that the CCD pixels to make the increased improvement of image quality. The image is reallyProfessional quality, very impressive, it's really cool. This is a very difficult decision to make, but I think the image that produces the GL2 is better than the TRV950. It 'very thin and must make the decision myself, but I also feel the GL2 excels in other areas, there is space in front of the GL2, so that the dumb little differentiation in image quality.
Front
Before entering the low rating of the camera, I'd do a tour of the GL2. We try toStart dead on the front of the camera. The goal is a 58 mm L-Series fluorite lens. Canon describes the benefits of these clearly "professional" as the ultimate goal in terms of color. Canon reports that in the fluorite lens defeats color aberration. Even in front of the camera is raised above and extended out of the grip is the stereo microphone. In the middle of the left and right microphones is the infrared receiver. It is towards the beginning of the IR receiver, a red countLamp indicates that if you take the camera. The light can be turned on or off.
The Right
On the right side of the camera rather empty of all the features that is a good thing in my head. The tape loading mechanism is located on the right side, with the real tape eject button on the top, slightly recessed. The zoom rocker is on the right side. Panel hidden behind a removable rubber (although still connected to the camera) is the DCTerminal, microphone and headphone. The DC terminal is to connect the AC adapter to the camera, although this can also be connected via a style "battery" power attachment on the back. I like the location of the MIC jack on the positioning of the GL2 DCR-TRV950 on the MIC, which is located in the front. I think it's better to have a microphone jack on the side, because then the wires of the microphone will get in the way of your goal, but I believe that to be on the sideto close, as the seat belt side, you can get in the way of the hand while shooting. It 'really a trade-off.
My hands are quite small, but felt that the right "feel" too small for me. When holding the camera, my finger was on the zoom control. If I pull back my finger, there is a large space between the top of my palm and the handle, making it very difficult to keep the camera is stable. Also in the top right click the photo. There is a beautifulClick when you press it.
Back
The right-back of the camera has all the standard position of the thumb buttons for easy access. The record button is surrounded by a rotating standby / lock switch. Just above the Record button is a great card / tape switch that selects between the freeze-frame image and video mode.
Always in the back of the camera, but on the right side of the battery slot wide range of doors from a piece of rubber is covered. Going from top to bottom is the LANC terminal, aMini-USB port, the FireWire DV, mini AV port and comes with an S-Video. The next area of the battery connector. Something I do not like do not have the GL2, is that the viewfinder and be pulled up to is to remove the battery.
On the other hand from the left rear of the camera is a long vertical line of controls. The final control to select manual control of audio with what you see on the back of the left side. The audio is select the right manual controlright below it. Underneath is the menu button. The last dial on the back of the camera is to select the option. Some of the GL2 quadrants of the rotation is not full, but you can easily move up or down in the spring a short distance and then, when you let go back. I like the dials. They allow a more acute and the cruise control function that is normally not granted such control, such as exposure or scroll through menus. You can quickly access theSpring quadrants before and the camera up or down in value. Pressing the Menu button is pressed the dial scrolls through menu options. When the recording mode in the options page (not the simple recording mode), use the knob to scroll through the different automatic exposure control or switch to a full manual mode.
Left
At the end towards the top left of the GL2 are the indicators for manual controls on the left and right with the controls on whichback. I truly believe that these indicators are really great. The GL2 really beats from the TRV950 manual audio control by far. The two dials on the side with the indicators are much better than the menu driven manual audio controls on the TRV950.
The following two audio books are two small switches to switch between manual and automatic control of audio-visual and sound. On the way to the camera lens on the right side of the LCD monitor. A small button will open the 2.5Inch. If the LCD screen, all that is hidden by a screen and a button. I like the decision to Canon, the only key that behind the LCD screen display toggle button, you probably do if the screen is opened to make hidden. With the decrease in space than any camcorder camcorders are smaller, manufacturers have increasingly buttons hidden behind the LCD screen. Put buttons behind the LCD screen is not only annoying, but alsomeans that you open the LCD to have certain functions, and if you try to save the life of the battery you need to open the LCD screen as possible. I am a little 'disappointed that Canon did not take the buttons on the LCD screen brightness LCD such as Sony with the DCR-TRV950. On the contrary, they are controlled in the menu. I think that the proper use of an LCD screen I constantly adjust the brightness to get the best picture and maximize battery life.
Situatedtoward the bottom of the camera beneath the LCD is the SD slot. The SD card slot is covered by a door that folds. I like the Canon SD slot placement. On the Sony TRV950, Sony introduced the Memory Stick slot on the top of the conveyor belt that was really strange. On the left side of the SD card slot is a small white circle, and I have no idea what it is! I thought it might be a light card access, but does not seem to shine when the gap GL2 save to the SD card. PerhapsThere is a reset button? Who knows?
On the left side of the SD slot is the default key personalized, custom keys, white balance and white balance mode select button. Right to the extreme right of the left side of the camera, the exposure should be chosen that are used for the shutter speed, aperture and gain control over it. I do not feel the keys bounce enough. If you press does not always sure if they click on it or not. Because they are allowed (to protect not pressed accidentally) haveto push something heavy. The dial display is the same type as the source again to select the selection.
There are four silver buttons on the left side of the rectangular LCD screen with two above and two below the audio level indicator. The switch button on the top left between manual and automatic focus. The top right button activates or deactivates the ND filter. Press two buttons to activate and digital effects, and choose to use the digital effects.
Top
We start with the hot shoe, the beginninglocated on the lens. Almost all the buttons on the top of the camcorder by the handle at the top are raised a few inches above the top of the camera. As you move back over the next two keys that have hit the zoom and move the start-stop recording button is located next to each other. Below these two pictures is a button. I love that Canon included buttons on the upper handle, if you really want to do creative shooting, the camera is inevitably taken fromManaging and it is very important that you are able to start recording on and off and the ability to control the zoom is also very useful. Sony does not provide such controls on the top handle of the TRV950.
Behind the Photo button, the VCR control buttons, with a door that is open to the hidden recesses right. I like these controls on the top of the handle behind the LCD screen, on the contrary, but I am really afraid that the door will pop off. I believe that a sliding lidwould be a better choice. Tucked away at the door from the front to the back of the GL2, the bus / memory card INDEX SCREEN button, the REW / memory card back button, play / pause / mix / slide button, memory card, a forward / forward button memory card, the record button, audio dub button and finally, the audio-video Insert button.
Where manual control of the Canon GL2 is characterized by the fact that the end user the full control over which they occupy. Thebest evidence of the respect that Canon has for the consumer in terms of manual control with zoom. The GL2 has a nice 20x optical zoom with a 100x digital zoom. The 20x optical zoom, 10x optical GL2 really beats on the TRV950. Each camera has manual zoom. Of course, the GL2 has manual zoom is, but you are presented with a variety of options. There are two zoom controls, one located on the handle and one is on the top handle. I think one is the Grip Controlsomething small and there is not much to do the movement slowly variable speed zoom a little 'heavy. But the menu you can adjust the zoom speed, variable, slow, medium or fast. As I said, you can also adjust the speed of the zoom handle upper right side and made independent! So if you really want accuracy, you could have a very fast or very slow, and set the zoom other variables. I think that would be shooting in a live situation to do, wherealmost always want to zoom, or recording on a rapid implementation of the situations you want to go where they appear and disappear very useful.
Manual focus is controlled by a ring around the lens. The focus ring provides a fairly accurate focusing on the tension makes it easy. If the camera as I do when I'm not a stand for the right hand grip and the weight of the lens with your left hand, left hand, falls right on focus with your thumb would fall quite easilyRight button to auto focus / manual toggle. I can move the left thumb to select the exposure, setting aperture, shutter speed and white balance.
What really shines in the GL2 is controlled with manual control of aperture and shutter speed control. If you are in auto shooting mode, you can compensate the exposure manually rotates total exposure (a combination of aperture and shutter speed) going to lock the exposure. You can adjust the exposurefrom -11 to +5 with 15 steps in between.
To have full control of shutter speed and aperture, turn the camera on full manual control. The exposure in the press wheel to scroll through the shutter speed, aperture and manual gain. The on-screen display shows the values of the four elements of the image. First on the list is the shutter speed. The Canon can go down to 1/8th of a second to 1 / 15, 000 of a second shutter speed control with 29 steps. The 01:08 from a second slower,1/15th of a second and 1/30th second shutter speed of GL2 are new.
Canon has also added a really cool control called Clear Scan Shutter again. Once they are on 1 / 15, 000 of a second shutter speed value, then the next option to stay clear scan shutter speeds. This option is designed shutter speed to adjust the shutter speed on the scanning frequency of a television monitor or computer. If you have never shot a computer monitor, you may have noticed black linesHorizontal scroll on the screen. This is because the shutter, the camera is not synchronized with the monitor. They fit the clear scan shutter screen, clicking on the menu and select Camera Setup. The clear scan shutter speed is based on Hertz (Hz) from 60.5 Hz to 201.5 Hz with an incredible 120 steps in the middle of September This is a really great feature. I think it's a larger example of Canon among the features that really add to the camera, but it does not cost anythingTo get there, you really see the respect for the consumer.
Pressing the exposure back up in the opening. You can set the aperture or depth of F1.6 to F8 with 19 levels of adjustment. The camera will show you the exact number of F stops on the display screen. The inclusion of numerical values is very useful for the professional videographer. The Sony has more manual exposure on the DCR-TRV950 control, does not show the number of FHe stops.
Pressing the knob another time of exposure, the camera switches to the manual adjustment of the gain. You can manually set the gain to 0 dB, +6 dB, +12 dB or +18 dB. They also move through the options with exposure Rad. I like the extra +18 dB, which helps in low light situations.
With the white balance, you have three standard options. Internal, external or full manual. Two keys to adjust the white balance, the Select button of the three options. If you arefull manual options is a button on the right side of the selection button to the right white balance.
You also have the option of gray filter on and off. No such feature is the Sony DCR-TRV950 provided. The ND filter is ideal for taking bright scenes. Total manual control is one of the areas where the GL2 is really.
One feature that I really like the GL2 is the custom preset. This feature allows you to capture all the colors, color phase, color, sharpnessand color settings (brightness). With the custom preset button on the side of the camera, you can change the settings or turn off. Custom preset options are really great for setting up your video image even more, above the base rate for manual controls offered by the camera. This is a very useful feature.
Frame movie mode
The GL2 has frame movie mode that can rotate at 30 frames per second progressive scan video. The video is nice to be able to see this movie, but if youreally trying to find a quality film that is the new Panasonic 24-frame progressive MiniDV camcorder.
Optical Image Stabilization
The GL2 includes an optical image stabilizer, the TRV950 is missing. If electronic image stabilizer, I always choose a camera with optical image stabilizer digital, because digital image stabilizers, often affect the image quality. But now the CCD has a resolution higher than its actual output video quality, quantityAn electronic image stabilization degrades the video image is negligible. Thus, the optical image stabilizer is better, especially if the electronics of the TRV950 in comparison? I hesitantly say yes. It 'very difficult to image stabilization, because the differences are so subtle, but I feel that the optical image stabilization is much easier. Seems to have no image objects (where you move the camera and the picture is not with you step by half or second quarter)with optical image stabilization. If the video quality is better? In theory yes, but I can not tell a noticeable difference in the degradation of electronic and optical image stabilization.
Shooting
The GL2 has a variety of shooting modes. The first mode, which I like recording is easy. In this mode, the camera takes control of everything. The camera has a TV mode, where you have control over most of the features as well as winning and coverage, have AvMode, where instead of control over shutter speed, you have control over the opening. Of course, my favorite in full manual mode, where you have full control over everything, except that you can not save the show. Of course, this way you can change the shutter speed and aperture is not as able to control the exposure does not matter. The latter two are of sand and snow, and Spotlight. The first is self explanatory, but the Spotlight feature is great for shooting ranges, where there is a strongContrast to light, especially in an auditorium on a stage.
Manipulation
The only great thing, I feel better with the Sony DCR-TRV950 on the Canon GL2 is the general management and control. The GL2 is definitely heavier and larger than the TRV950, which I like. The excess mass is not too tired that you did to him with both hands, but has enough weight so that you can shoot in a stable manner. Position of the button is good enough on the GL2. I felt that I fit the imageFull manual settings and record simultaneously on tape, while maintaining a constant stroke.
No power
The major upgrade of the GL1 GL2 is the addition of an SD card slot for saving digital photos. The GL2 pixels 1.7 Mega pixels shift to using 1488 x 1128 resolution still images to achieve the three 410K pixel CCDs. The GL2 is just not satisfactory performance. The images are still looking good but I think for the overall quality of the TRV950 produces betterPictures. The camera does not include pop-up flash, like the DCR-TRV950, though, as the addition of accessories is available. One thing I thought was quite annoying is that the GL2 can not save your digital photos on the SD card while in record mode to tape. To store digital still images, you must switch from tape recorded on the card. It seems that if you are in map mode, the camera, it takes an extremely long time to be saved as digital images on the SD card, this could beexplained by the fact that the use of the pixel Canon GL2 displacement, and thus more computing power to the images before they are stored on SD cards. The GL2 includes a USB port and a USB cable and software to connect the camera to the computer.
Low Light
So I would GL2 low light performance as excellent. If you take the camera in full manual, open, shutter speed and aperture to bring the 1/60th and turn the gain up to +18 dB, you can get a satisfactoryPicture in a rather low light, one that is better, in every case, the TRV950. The performance is most likely due to slightly larger than the CCD GL2 must be enabled to get more light per pixel than the TRV950 explained. I really have not noticed, wheat, until you kick the gain up to +18 dB, and then there was only slight, certainly an acceptable level. It is at +18 dB on the GL2 the grain is greater than what is there to +12 dB on the TRV950, but I think if both are simultaneouslydB level, the GL2 has less grain. If the GL2 really jumps ahead of the competition in low-light performance using the custom preset. Winning maxing out the color and only a slight increase in brightness, you can get a very low visible light image. Now is not the GL2 VX2000 beat in low light conditions, but hit the TRV950, in my opinion.
LCD / Viewfinder
The GL2 includes a 2.5-inch LCD screen, smaller 3.5-inch LCD on the DCR-TRV950. The screenlooks good. I obviously prefer the larger screen on the TRV950, but I think that 2.5-inch display is sufficient. The GL2 also a color viewfinder. I really wish Canon least a viewfinder in black and white on the GL2. You really made a pro-class camera here, and it would be nice if we could have a professional class of black and white viewfinder.
Doors
The GL2 includes all the standard ports to connect your camcorder to outsideDevices. Transmission of digital images will be through a USB port. The camera includes a uniform standard DV IEEE 1394 FireWire in / out port to transfer video from camcorder to computer. The camera also has a mini-RCA cable that converts the mini-RCA full-size RCA jacks. The port can be used both in and out as flat as S-video port on the GL2 function. The camera also mini output 1 / 8 inch headphone and microphoneJack.
Audio
What makes the GL2 is so great that Canon seems to be really focused on the development of a robust camera and not adding bells and whistles. The GL2 gives you two options for audio monitoring. The first is on the screen that gives you a right and left channel audio meter. The GL2 also has the addition of audio monitor side showing the left and right channel. The GL2 also offers many options for sound mixing. The first manual is the right and leftQuadrants of the channel to adjust the volume, which I mentioned earlier. When the camera is in manual mode audio, you can manually set the logging levels either in the camera microphone or audio from the MIC. The audio quality, the fine on the microphone of the camera can not tell the difference between him and the TRV950, of course, the Canon more options for recording and monitoring does not provide the 950
The GL2 also offers the ability to perform audio dubbing on a tape that youincluded, also known as add sound. It can only be dubbed tape, recorded in SP mode with 12-bit audio has been recorded. MiniDV has the function of the four-channel 12-bit audio, which have used only a handful of cameras in the past. The audio dubbing function lets you record on the third and fourth channels of previously recorded tape without recording on the original first and second channels. The function of the audio mix of GL2, you can adjust the audio levels of the first twoAudio and audio dubbing during playback. The versatility of the audio recording of the GL2 is great, especially for editing in-camera situations. Bit audio channels on your first shot - the only feature that would like to have it recorded on the camcorder can record on all 12 four
Other Features
The GL2 has many additional features that make it better. Canon has been very generous in which the camera eye with two cups. The first is a standard for most eyeShooting situations. The second is a larger eye cup, which provides greater protection from light is perfect for sunny situations. The GL2 includes digital effects such as fade, wipe, overlap, in black and white, sepia, art, mirrors, mosaic, strobe and trail. You can also display standard SMPTE color bars to calibrate the camera. And 'nice because you should always be a few seconds of color bars for tapes of the recording. You can recognize a zebra pattern, changeexposed areas. The TRV950 offers only two options: the threshold can be set to 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100 IRE. Easy access to all these functions, the GL2 includes a custom button with which you can assign different functions. The GL2 has a pass through the digital option, so that the camera can convert analog video signals from two S-Video or RCA outputs for connecting digital video through the FireWire port on the fly. The GL2 also able to do both and put the audio video editing, in whichAudio or video on the tape previously recorded audio or video. Finally, the camera has a title, the mix option, where you can add tracks from the SD card pre-recorded audio.
The GL2 includes a cleaning interval recording function. This feature enables the camera .5, 1, 1.5 or 2 seconds to record video in a space of 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes or 10 minutes.
Compared to the Sony DCR-TRV950
In preparing the comparison between the probable and TRV950the GL2, I would hands down the GL2. The GL2 offers better manual control, the main reason why I would choose. The Clear Scan, which stops the display of the level F 18 dB of gain, neutral density and the really great presets custom option to provide the videographer to manipulate images in order to obtain the best possible. Well, if you do not know how to use one of these functions are absolutely useless to you, and no matter which camera you choose!
The GL2 has large CCD, 0.25 inchesHowever, compared to 0.21 inches, the TRV950 has a smaller screen LCD from 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches in the most subjective category, I really think that the GL2 has a better picture of TRV950, although the difference is small. The real reason you can get a better picture of the Canon GL2 is received, it will be granted much more control over the elements of the image. Also, I hear the low light performance of the GL2 is better than the TRV950. I feel that the TRV950 is easierHandle. Although the GL2 is heavier, which I like, I feel some of the button layout is cumbersome and I feel the goal is difficult to cradle.
Improvements over the GL1
Although these functions I covered at the beginning of the review, I thought it would be useful to explain all the updates GL1 GL2. The CCD is more pixels per CCD in the GL2 than 410K 270K in GL1. The GL2 is the greatest improvement in the digital category. The 1.7 mega pixel cameraHoles transferred to the SD card and the gaps on your computer via a USB slot, while the GL1 had no such option. The GL2 also show an improvement for the accessories for mounting accessories like a flash.
Completion
The GL2 is really serious for the videographer. The camera has many bells and whistles, and if so, are hidden in the menu, where they should be! The manual is great, far superior to what the Sony DCR-TRV950 offers. The camera offersYou manual control and actual values for the image as f-stop controls. The image is really strong. This camcorder is about the video recordings, and that's what a camera in this price range should be about. The excellent performance in low light really brings the GL2 over the top. If you are looking for a serious camera with manual controls and a framework that will put out a great looking, go for the GL2. I'm always bothered by the manufacturer to invest money on useless features insteadto work to improve the video camera that shoots. Even if I TRV950, love, and is a great camcorder, the GL2 clearly makes video recordings only better, and I would recommend you go with the GL2.
