I've used several 3 chip camcorders over the years that use the MiniDV format and as far as picture quality goes...this one delivered the best picture. I've used the Canon XL1, Panasonic's and Sony's first 3 chip MiniDV camcorders (forgive me, but I don't recall their model names because I only used them while working contract for some LO tv production companies) and I thought the picture quality on the GL2 was by far the best. I was very dissapointed in the quality of the XL1 by comparrison. The XL1 takes great images, but I can get Beta SP broadcast images from my GL2 (this requires a full knowledge of the manual settings, but I can also get great images using the auto settings). Reds weren't bleeding, flesh tones came out looking natural and the camera handles low level light very well. One problem others have had, that I haven't is the story all over the net about there being a hum in the audio. My audio has always sounded killer on this camera. You can record at 16 bit 44.1 kHz (CD quality) stereo (an external mic is recommended for professional projects which can be easily attached with an RCA stereo adapter).
Bottom line, I've shot numerous video projects and a DVD with this camera and was blown away by the results. The DVD footage especially turned out killer (you can transfer video from the camera to a computer editing system without losing image quality via firewire). For the price and image quality, I think this is the best value out of all the 3 CCD MiniDV format cameras out there.

What can I say about the GL2 that hasn't already been said. What drew me to this camera was the 20 X. optical and the still picture function. When I was making the choice between this and the XL1S I chose this camera because of the LCD display. This is something the XL1S does not have and I feel is needed so you don't always need to look through the eyepiece to size up a shot.

I think the best feature of this camera is Frame movie mode. where the camera takes 30 still frames a second instead of interlaced video. This keeps action shots from being blurry.

This camera will do what you needed to do takes great pictures. Even in low light. The wide-angle lens adapter, I feel is a must have also. So I recommend this camera!

Check out this web site for updated information on features
http://www.dvinfo.net/canongl2/index.php

Have fun and get it done

After just one and a half years of use representing around 200 hours of filming the manual zoom function acquired a mind of its own. There is no true manual zoom on this cam so if the internal logic that interfaces the zoom buttons both top and side goes whacky you lose control of zoom. This camera also has a real and serious focus lag problem if you do any sports/action shooting.

Optics and image quality are tops in its class but what difference does that make if you can't control the friggin zoom!

There are few flaws with this camcorder. Power save function automatically shuts off the camcorder ever when you are in recording mode. This does not happen always but once in a while you get this. Please read reviews from various sites before buying this expensive one.

Watch out for the lower prices listed for this item. I almost fell for a scam and, in fact, lost $64 to Western Union before I realized that I was being scammed.

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH ANYONE WHO INSISTS THAT YOU SHOULD WORK WITH THEM THROUGH AN OUTSIDE ESCROW SERVICE.

http://www.waywired.com/FraudOnLine/EscrowSTD.cfm outlines how the scam works and this guy's experience was exactly the same as mine all the way down to the story about why the guy was selling so cheap. The e-mail was almost verbatim except for the product information.

The tell sign is that an e-mail address is mentioned in the product description. You should not contact the seller directly. The safest method is to use Amazon.com's system to pay.

I have called Amazon.com's customer service regarding the e-mail address of the guy who tried to scam me. If someone tries to scam you, report them to Amazon.com, to their e-mail provider (AOL, Yahoo, etc.) and especially report the incident to http://www.ic3.gov -- which is the FBI's fraud report website.

You should also know that Western Union is not connected to escrow services of any kind and they are particularly vulnerable to these kinds of scams, so DO NOT USE WESTERN UNION's transfer service to pay for any item.

See their website for more information on how to protect yourself: http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqSecurity.asp

I hope passing along this information will help others not be a victim like me.

I bought a GL2 because I had used the GL1 and I liked it. The GL2 was just past the warranty and I kept getting the error message on the screen that said "Remove The Cassette" I paid almost $250.00 for the repair facility to replace the tape transport system which they said was bent. No camera in the world gets better treatment than this one believe me, $2,200 is a lot of money to me. Now the camera is doing the same thing again after less than 6 hours of use. I would strongly suggest doing some searches to see just how many people are having this problem. Mine is anything but an isolated incident. Go to google or dogpile and do a search under gl2 remove the cassette or go to camcorderinfo.com and read the many complaints about this problem in the Canon forum area.

The GL2 has proved to be a great friend.

Pros:

My documentary work involves a diverse set of environments, from deep caves to back country wilderness to the barrios of seeder stretches in Mexico, and the light weight, compactness and ruggedness of this camera has amazed me. A fine machine in the field, 300 hours later I have had zero malfunctions and continue to be pleased by the diverse range of features. It has weathered tough environments and significant impacts without a hitch.

Excellent fluorite optics. Fine zoom control. Beautiful images. Useful if semi-low rez digital camera mode. Great image stabilization.

Cons: Many of the control features are controlled through a menu access system. This has taken some time to adapt to, but has now become second nature. At this point it no loger bothers.

The low light capability is limited compared to the XL1, which I also use, and must be compensated for by generous lighting and judicious use of low db, low f-stop settings and slower shutter speeds, typically 1/60 or 1/30. The GL2 is rated at .37 lux, but this is at the trippy but relatively useless 1/8 shutter speed. Get some lights if you mean to film in dark environments.

A wide angle lens can be added for approximately 160.00 and significantly improves close up work and fast action shots. A must.

Ironically, one must sometimes weight the camera to improve smooth motion.

Upshot: Canon quality isn't cheap, but is well worth it. A fine investment when you want one of the best in its class. HD is coming, but it hasn't arrived in a truly reliable camera format yet.

In a two-year span I have done three important projects that went to DVD and maybe five family home videos. I'm getting pretty good at using manual settings to get rich colors and high quality shots. But lately, as I watch the video from the last two projects I am noticing a couple of dead pixels, tiny white spots that are always there. They are especially noticeable when you zoom in on someone's face. So on the next project I borrowed a GL2 from my friend to avoid having this flaw in my shots, but his camera is about the same age and it also has this problem. I called Canon to see what it might be, and it turns out that it is something wrong with the CCD and prism system. The Part is $500.00 and the labor starts at $400.00. In other words, its is not worth fixing. So I consider the GL2 a throw away piece of junk after about a year and a half.

I had a GL2 for about one and half years, shot about 20 hours of tapes. In addition to some playback and transfer usage, it has been used no more than 60-70 hours total. I had been very happy with the video and audio quality. Then the infamous "Remove Cassette" error hit me: the rewind function no longer works and prompts "Remove Cassette" or "Eject" messages.
I had a Canon ZR25MC, it failed exactly the same way a couple years ago: it refused to rewind tape and even chewed up a few tapes. Instead of paying a few hundred dollars to repair a relative cheap camcorder, I decided to upgrade to a GL2, thinking that Canon must be aware of this problem and had fixed it. Silly me.
This problem is apparently not limited to GL2 and ZR models. A simple goole search will reveal that it happened to many Canon camcorders, including GL2, XM2, and ZR, Elura, MV models for the last few years.
I will stay away from Canon for my next camcorder.

Pros:
The video quality for the GL2 is excellent in good lighting and still good in low light but has noticeable noise. The image stabilizer works great even if you don't have a steady hand, even full telephoto won't make you nauseous. The analog to digital feature is nice being able to convert just about anything to digital. The full manual controls are great for anyone who wants to control how their video comes out. The automatic modes are pretty good but that's not why you would buy this camera. Even the automatic focus and aperture work good but are kind of slow. This can work to your advantage if someone walks in front of the camera or you pan past a window, but if it loses focus or changes the aperture it doesn't bounce right back.

Cons:
This camera is notorious for faulty tape decks. If it doesn't give the EJECT TAPE message it still requires constant cleaning with a head cleaning tape, about every 5 hours horizontal lines appear on the LCD. The photo feature is kind of pointless, only 1.7 Megapixels, anyone who could afford this camera would already have camera that would take better pictures. And it can't be used while recording, requires a seperate shooting mode.

Summary: All around great camera but gets dirty easily. Video quality and manual controls are top notch.

Alright, so I've been reading some of the reviews that people have put in here about this camera, and I just want to offer up the nice statement that "If you gave this camera 3 stars or less, you're a retard." I'm pretty sure amazon won't allow me to say it, but it's true! This camera is so freakin' great! I own this one and the xl1s, and this is my "toy" camera. I'm just a 24 year old kid, so maybe my opinion means nothing to you. If so, then stop reading this. No one asked you to, anyway.

This camera sells itself. Compare it to some others in the same category (make sure you're checking out the GL2 and not the predecessor GL1). The $2999 asking price here is way too high, though. Shop around, and you should be able to find a new one for about $1750 or so. That and the extended warranty that covers cleanings once a year. SO worth the money. I take her (my camera ... her name is "Mandy") everywhere, and I've already made enough short movies for people to have her pay for herself. And she can take a beating, too. I took her from 75 degrees at 8,000ft above sea level to 23 degrees at 12,000ft in less than 6 minutes time and she didn't complain at all. She was a definite plus for our snowboarding trip!

Tired of reading all of those specs that may not make sense to you right now? This camera is usable by someone who has never used a camera (which was me before I made my purchase), and adjustable to have everything completely manual.

My only qualm is the "noise" in LOW LOW light. That should be expected, though. For that I use the xl1s ("Jessica"), but don't let that stop you from your purchase of this.

This camera is incredible! I seriously love it.

I wanted to shoot my first short film, so I shopped and shopped until I found this one, best price for the best features, looking back, I should have saved my money. With websites like mandy.com and others, you can easily make a film by putting the 2K towards hiring a junior or if your lucky, mid level DP w/ their own better equipment for about 200-400 a day. If you have a short film in mind and a dedicated work ethic w/ tight scheduling, you can make an entire film this way.

BUT- if you want to shoot and get used to holding a cam and setting the shot and angle and lights and actors and everything else incvolved, this is a perfect starter cam.

I actually wish I would have saved up the cash and bought a 24p cam like the DVX100 or an XL2 but this is great for entry level kids shooting their first flicks which will mostly be garbage anyways so... make up your own mind.

This unit is pretty awesome especially with frame.
Also, a noteworthy thing is this camera first does 16 x 9 and then encoding producing a higher quality image than a comparable Sony model.

I've actually owned the precursor unit to this one, the GL1, and was also pleased with it.

This camera has the hotshoe feature and the longest OPTICAL zoom in its class.

Optical VS Digital, optical definitely wins.

This camera is all-a-round useful and also, this unit is actually the preferred camera of choice for many sports film-makers.

If you take this thing to the slopes like i have, strangers will come up to you and instantly recognize the unit.

Great with kenko lenses.

Only actual thing I've seen is that it doesn't like low light, so adding a VL-3 is a must, or a VL-10 is recommended.

One thing to watch out for is that you must keep care of the camera. For example, you must get yourself a tape-head-cleaner. The Maxell's are a good buy, but you could go OEM if you want to.
Also, don't cheap out on the cassettes.
In my 6 years of using the GL1/GL2, I've always used TDK and JVC tapes. The JVCs come in a 6-pack and can be found a a best buy. The TDKs also come in a 6-pack, and you can find them at Costco.

For more reference, I have pushed this camera beyond its specification as it has been rained on, snowed on, and frozen to the point where there is actually lag in the LCDs and yet, it still works like brand new.

Definitely a good buy !

i got the camera from amazon about 3 months ago and its amazing. the features are amazing.

My primary camera is a Sony HDR-FX1.
I bought the GL-2 as a second unit for multiple camera angles at sporting events.
The GL-2 is a respectable camera but in my opinion the video image doesn't even come close to the Sony.
The price and rebate offer was the greatest incentive in my purchase of this camera.
However, beware of the rebate offer.
I sent all the documents in strict compliance with the terms of the rebate only to have it rejected.
The rebate facilitator claimed I did not include the UPC code.
If I had it to do over, I would dig deeper into my wallet and buy a second Sony.

I recently purchased the GL2, and am very pleased with the results I'm getting so far. Image quality is great, especially for such a small and lightweight camera. The manual focus is really nice. The zoom is amazing. And interchangable lenses is a big plus.
Should you buy this camera?
Maybe. The GL2 falls into an odd mid range. If you just want an easy to use camcorder that has great image quality, i'd probably reccommend one of the small panasonic 3ccd cameras. And if you want a digital camcorder that has broadcast quality video or high definition, then you want to step up to the next level. So, basically you could spend under a $1000 and get a good simple camcorder, or you could get the next level of quality at $4000+. But for this price--$2200--this camera is great. Even though it's not 24p, there is something about the image to me that is very well suited for film...

I purchased this camera looking to take more manual control over my video projects. And that is exactly what it has allowed me to do. It has the right balance of manual controls (as well as automatic modes) and price. It has given me the flexibility I was looking for. The weight balance is good, the controls are easily accessible and battery life is very good.

I bought this over the Sony and I regret it. I get a tape eject error every time I try to rewind. I can only rewind at 10 second intervals before I get an error message to eject the tape and do the same thing over again. That's a long time to rewind a 60 minute tape. Many Canon users are having this problem and the only way they address the problem which is clearly a mechanical problem is to charge a ridiculous price to send it off to be repaired. Canon needs to own up to this problem and have a recall on the item. I will never buy Canon again after they have turned a blind eye to a serious problem.

If you want a quality product, this ain't it. The dreaded "Remove the Cassette" error is true and in full force. Don't take my word for it, search the net and find the hundreds, upon thousands of unhappy consumers who purchased this piece of junk and discovered it the hard way. I highly suggest the Panasonic AG-DVX100. It costs a bit more, but well worth it.

Before reading other reviews, make sure that they are comparing the GL-2 to another cam, like Tony L. Shores. He compares the Canon GL-Piece-of-junk-2 to the Sony HDR-FX1. Sure, the Sony is much better, but it is also a High-Definition cam. If you want HD, check out the Panasonic AG-HVX200.

Do your research, read the reviews.

This isn't the latest and greatest camcorder, but it is still worth consideration for anyone who wants a higher quality camcorder, but isn't quite ready to become a professional.

The camera has a design flaw and Canon won't admit it. In about a year
you won't be able to rewind the cassette. It'll cost about $450 to get
a new mechanism which will last about another year. I had to buy a
battery operated cassette winder and carry it wherever I want to use the camera.

The images are great! so if you don't mind using a pencil erasor or buying a
special rewinder so you can look at what you recorded; GO FOR IT!

For the money, this is a great buy. I haven't had any function problems with mine yet, but that could be because I have used the same type of MiniDV tape since I got the camera. Canon says that the cause of the "remove the cassette" error is due to different kinds of build-up from different brands of tapes, so by using the same type, you probably won't encounter this problem. Now, Canon did not originally worn customers of this flaw when the camera was released, so I think they should recall it and fix them all for free, but I guess that's unrealistic.

Back to the camcorder, though. For low-budget filmmaking that looks great, this is a very good choice. Just be sure to take good care of it.

Great PRO 3CCD camera. We bought this camera because of it's lens quality and zoom capabilities.

The GL2 certainly is compact which is great for handling but means that all the inputs and outputs are squashe together and you need small nimble fingers. I specifically bought this camera to use with tapeless capture (Firestore FSD) and that has proved problematic as it records all on the screen. But it was not an unsurmountable problem, just not user friendly. The menus are clunky to use and I would like better audio inputs as standard.

This camera is Great! I use it to film events for a broadcasting class at school and its wonderful. The only problem is the microphone picks up noises behind the camera, as well as infront, usually you only want sound from the front, but thats just a minor problem. The image quality is superb! Just be sure that you buy a better battery, because the one that comes with doesn't last too long. Other then those two small problems this camera is great. However if you just want to film small events, birthday parties etc don't get this, this is a semi-proffesional camera.

Bottom line, the Canon GL2 is a great mid-range pro-sumer camcorder for everyday use and learning. We bought one for a high school broadcast journalism curriculum, and so far it's been great. We considered several other camcorders within the same price range, but we decided on the GL2 because of recommendations, features, and Canon's reputation.

Some thoughts on the GL2:
Pro:
-Great bang for the buck.
-*Extraordinary* image quality and focusing (3CCD instead of normal consumer of 1 CCD). We've shot a soccer game from about 150 feet away in the stands, and the zooming and focusing combines into outstanding quality. I've heard the GL2 has much better image than some other more-expensive pro-sumer cams, and the GL2 certainly gets the job done.
-So-so internal mic. (But you should buy an external shotgun mic to use anyway so you don't pickup audio of camera adjustments.)
-A fair variety of manual controls to learn and gain experience from.
-Capable of shooting 9:16 wide screen shots, but it's not actually HD. A separate feature puts bounding boxes indicating 9:16 boundaries on the viewfinder for 4:3 shooting mode.
-Secondary record/start-stop button and zoom dial on internal microphone area above cam body useful when shooting with camera near ground.
-Steady-cam feature works fairly well.
-Variety of preset effects/transitions.
-White balance automatic/manual options easy to use. Feature's buttons near LCD panel.
-Feature to reduce flicker shot of CRT monitors. Feature's button to left of LCD panel.
-"Frame mode" - nice for documentaries, "unique" clips
-"Advanced accessory shoe" behind internal mic for accessories such as internally powered lamps. Also can hold external shotgun mic shock mounts.
-MiniDV tapes load in top side of GL2 opposite LCD unlike most consumer camcorders - can easily & quickly change tapes when using on tripod.

Con:
-Learning to operate some manual controls can be a little confusing and complicated.
-The manual takes a bit getting used to terminology and language. A *couple* terms specific to this camera's operation refered to in feature explanations are not explained.
-Included battery pack BP-915 only lasts about an hour. You'd probably want to also want to buy a secondary battery (that can hold more power), especially if you shoot sports games, meetings, etc.
-As some reviews mention, some manual controls are operated within the same menus, and a couple common features users may frequently used are in the main menu. Check the manual for more info.

Tips:
-Make sure to white balance each shot, it's definitely worth it and makes video look that much better.
-If you shoot outside footage in any precipitation, it's a good idea to get a rain slicker such as the Porta-Brace RS-GL2, and perhaps the Porta-Brace Polar Mitten Heated Case for temperatures below the low operating temperature of 32 deg Fahrenheit.

Overall an outstanding piece of equipment I would certainly recommend for anyone looking for a camcorder with these types of moderately easy-to-learn features in this price range. Fun to learn from as well.

This camera is SPECTACULAR!!!! For about a year or two.

Then the system tape rejection errors start (do your research). Once this happens it's to the canon repair shop you must go where they are currently charging $516 for the parts plus $400 for the labor plus taxes and shipping etc. I am now throwing my GL2 in the trash and saving up to buy a new one. Canon's repair costs are outrageous - especially when this problem has been complained about for YEARS. A Canon rep even told me to never use the camera to play or offload videos (why advertise it as a feature if its such a bad idea?). He advised that you should buy a cheaper video camera to do those types of tasks. Good advise.... but even if you do... remember to add that cost to the purchase price of the GL2

- Disgruntled.

I've used this camera for 6 years. Last year I started getting intermittant "Remove the Cassette" messages. I wish I had captured the outstanding three recorded tapes onto my PC then. Instead I recorded another 45 minutes. Now, the error message is solid, no matter which tape I use.

My experience with Canon in the past has taught me not to waste the time or the money to bother having this repaired. (I spent about $700 having my previous Canon Camcorder repaired. It worked a few weeks and died again each time.)

Having gone to the web to research this bug, I'm convinced fixing this one will be an expensive and time consuming exercise in futility. (6 weeks plus turn around! and Canon won't tell how much the average repair cost is. Check the web .. $500+ )

Lesson learned. I'll be shopping a different manufacturer. Sony? JVC? Never again Canon.

Great camera , Great price. Bought this camera for my 16 year old son. He makes skateboard videos also tapes games for High School sporting events.
After editing on his computer the finished product looks very professional!
The camera is used daily and is very durable.No Complaints from him at all! Canon GL2 Mini DV 3 CCD Camcorder & 1GB Pro Opteka Accessory Kit

If you are looking into buy this camera....DON'T. get the Sony HDR-A1U High-Def camera it's 20x times better,newer,same price and High-Def.if you buy the GL2 you will get the "remove the cassette" warning after about a year of use!!!!!