Product Description
-------------------
The Canon GL2 (like its predecessor, the GL1, and its big
brother, the XL1) is helping to blur the line between consumer
and professional video equipment. This camcorder borrows most of
those cameras' professional-quality components and puts them into
a more compact, affordable camera. Though it's small enough to
carry around and doesn't cost much more than a top-of-the-line
consumer camcorder, the GL2 produces such high-quality results
that it could be used as a broadcast video camera.
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The Canon GL2 (like its predecessor, the GL1, and its big
brother, the XL1) is helping to blur the line between consumer
and professional video equipment. This camcorder borrows most of
those cameras' professional-quality components and puts them into
a more compact, affordable camera. Though it's small enough to
carry around and doesn't cost much more than a top-of-the-line
consumer camcorder, the GL2 produces such high-quality results
that it could be used as a broadcast video camera.
The 3 CCD System
The GL2 maximizes the capability of the DV format by using a 3
CCD (charge-coupled device) system with a separate CCD for each
primary color (red, green, blue). A beam-splitting prism
separates light passing through the lens into individual color
components and each is sent to its own CCD. Compared to a single
CCD, the 3 CCD system achieves outstanding detail with highly
accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end
video production - wide dynamic range, low color noise,
high-contrast detail, natural color resolution and low-aliasing.
The 3 CCD system also makes advanced Pixel Shift (for increased
image quality) and Low Light (for increased
flexibility) possible.
Professional L-Series Fluorite Lens
Canon has satisfied the demands of experienced image makers for
years through the power, design and quality of 35mm and broadcast
TV lenses. Canon's Professional L-Series lenses utilize Fluorite,
a material which provides outstanding resolution, contrast, and
color reproduction- especially in lightweight, high-magnification
lenses. Incorporated into the lens on the GL2, Fluorite delivers
the ultimate in clarity and image quality. The Fluorite element
inside the lens defeats color aberration -- the effect when the
components of light stray from one another within a lens, causing
a reduction in sharpness, contrast and color. The Fluorite lens
precisely controls components of light providing an excellent
balance of these three critical ingredients of picture quality.
This is unobtainable with conventional optical glass.
To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted
the green CCD (which contains 60 percent of the picture detail)
half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This shift allows more
accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon cls
rivals those from cameras with 410,000-pixel CCDs. Each pixel is
72 square microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in
competing camcorders. This increased size increases light
sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low-light situations. All
this results in outstanding detail, with highly accurate color
reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end video
production. The GL2 also incorporates a 20x Professional L-Series
fluorite optical zoom lens, which is equivalent to 39.5-790mm, as
well as a 100x digital zoom.
Audio
The GL2's omni-directional microphone is designed to deliver
realistic stereo sound. Using the GL2's advanced accessory shoe
expands your audio options. Audio can be recorded in 16-bit mode
on two channels on one track. Alternatively, audio can be record
in 12-bit mode, where the audio track is divided into two, and
two channels of audio are recorded onto one track, with the other
left over for audio dubbing.
Optical Image Stabilizer
Canon's superb optical stabilization system corrects camera
shake instantly so even hand held s, at full telephoto, and
s taken from a moving car, are smooth and steady. And since
it is optical, there is no loss of image quality inevitable with
electronic image stabilizers. It perfectly complements the high
picture quality of the DV format.
Digital Stills
You can turn your GL2 into a still camera by sw to
1.7-megapixel photo mode and capturing high-resolution still
images onto the camcorder's MultiMedia/Secure Digital card. (One
8 MB Secure Digital card is included with the GL2.) The
full-frame images are free from time-lag blur. A six-blade
circular iris, as found on Canon's top-of-the-line XL1 and XL1S
models, is used for professional exposure control, helping to
deliver stunning video and still photos.
Inputs and Outputs
The GL2 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as
FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other
DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection
to download still photos. The GL2 is designed to handle two types
of analog input and output: using audio/video cables (composite)
or S-video. Both connections are on the camera back.
More Features
* Three shooting modes: normal movie mode, digital photo mode,
and the cinema-like frame movie mode.
* The Custom Key function lets you create and save your own
custom settings so your common shooting modes can be readily
duplicated.
* Digital effects are offered for a greater imaging variety,
including fader, sepia, strobe motion, and black and white.
* With the Interval Timer function, you can record for a selected
time with a selected interval--convenient for nature observations
such as flowers or sunsets. MiniDV Format
The Canon GL2 digital video camcorder uses the standard MiniDV
cassette, producing the highest quality video possible from
nonbroadcast equipment. The MiniDV format standard delivers more
than 500 lines of horizontal resolution. And, because it records
both video and audio as digital data, this information can be
transferred--without any loss of picture or audio quality--to a
computer for editing, then transferred back to DV tape, without a
reduction in either picture or audio quality.
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From the Manufacturer
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The GL2 is a 3 CCD Digital Video Camcorder that incorporates
Canon's precision optics, superior digital processing, and a
sleek innovative design. Its advanced feature set allows users to
handle even the most challenging tasks with confidence. Offering
the highest level of control, the camera fully complements the
user's vision and passion for excellence. The GL2 boasts a 20x
Professional L-Series Fluorite optical zoom lens that transforms
distant subjects into dramatic close-ups with outstanding
resolution, contrast and color reproduction. The digital zoom is
capable of extending up to 100x, providing sharp detail and
maximizing lens quality. Utilizing Canon's Optical Image
Stabilizer System, camera shake is instantly corrected so even
hand-held s, at full telephoto, and s taken on the move
are smooth and steady. The GL2 has three shooting modes; Normal
Movie Mode, Frame Movie Mode, and Digital Photo Mode which
captures stunning 1.7 megapixel, images.
3 CCD
The Canon GL2 has three CCDs, delivering outstanding picture
quality, highly accurate color reproduction and a wide dynamic
range with virtually no color noise. On top of that, Canon has
improved a broadcast technology to create a new form of Pixel
Shift, producing greater picture quality than that of camcorders
using CCDs with almost twice the number of pixels.
Lens and Optical Image Stabilization
The GL2 gives you the ability to take your videos to new levels
of performance, whether you're a video professional or simply a
highly discerning hobbyist. Your exploration of this remarkable
camcorder should start with its lens: The GL2 is equipped with
the highly accled Canon Professional L-Series (luxury)
Fluorite Lens. To further enhance your videos, there's an Optical
Image Stabilizer to correct camera shake, plus there's a
Precision Circular Iris and ND Filter for total control of the
picture.
Shooting Modes and Aspect Ratios
The GL2 has three shooting modes: Normal Movie Mode, Digital
Photo Mode, and the cinema-like Frame Movie Mode popularized by
Canon's leading edge XL1 and XL1S. The GL2 also offers both the
standard 4:3 aspect ratio and 16:9 wide screen TV aspect ratio.
Exposure Modes
The GL2 offers both the versatility to meet all exposure
challenges and ease of use when you're happy to let the camera
make all the choices. Amazingly sophisticated circuitry and
computer algorithms analyze the light coming through the lens to
deliver proper exposure automatically under almost any lighting
condition. You also can easily adjust the exposure system in any
one of several creative ways to meet specific needs. By turning
the easily accessible Program Dial to select one of seven
exposure modes, you control how you want the video to look.
Shooting Enhancements
The Canon GL2 offers many on-camera enhancements that help avoid
common shooting errors and make capturing high-quality footage
trouble-free. The shooting enhancements also include basic
conventional features that are commonly found on broadcast
camcorders.
Picture Adjustments
Attaining the best picture possible is the essence of
filmmaking, photography, videography and Canon. The GL2 automates
and also allows manual control of the essential ingredients that
go into capturing great images.
Audio Adjustments
The GL2's omnidirectional microphone is designed to deliver
great quality sound: realistic, life-like, and in stereo. Using
the GL2's Advanced Accessory Shoe expands your audio options.
Also consider that you have sound options to meet both your
and editing needs. One option gives you two channels
for sound and two channels for adding sound at the
editing stage.
Audio and Video Inputs and Outputs
The GL2 is designed to handle two types of analog input and
output: using audio/video cables (composite) or S-video. Both
connections are on the camera back.
Custom Keys and Presets
One Custom Key
The GL2 offers a Custom Key (one setting for camera mode and one
for VCR mode). This lets you create and save your own custom
settings so your common shooting modes can be readily duplicated.
Select options from either the Camera Menu or the VCR Menu and
create a customized setting for each.
Custom Preset Key
In addition to creating a custom setting for camera and VCR mode
via the custom key, you also can establish one preset
registration for the following camera features: camera sharpness,
color gain, setup level, and color phase.
Camera Sharpness
Change the degree of sharpness in the picture. There are 13
steps to choose from.
Camera Color
Shift the color towards red or green. There are 13 steps to
choose from.
MultiMediaCard and SD Memory Card compatible
For the storage of digital still images captured by the GL2, you
can use either MultiMediaCards or SD memory cards in the GL2. An
8MB SD Card comes with the camcorder, storing up to 17 fine
quality still pictures or 32 standard quality images.
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- 20x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 100x) and image stabilizer.
- 2.5-inch LCD with 270-degree rotation.
- Record for up to 65 minutes on one battery charge.
- A beam-splitting prism separates light passing through the lens into individual color components and each is sent to its own CCD..
- Record video to MiniDV tape or still photos to SD Card.