Canon GL1

Ok, to start with, this is a decent prosumer camera in general. You'll get excellent quality SD footage, even in certain low light conditions. The main problem I have found with this model is that it is prone to "dead pixels's" on the CCD. This will translate into a white spot on your footage, which will get very annoying the more you watch what you've shot.

If your camera is in warranty when it exhibits this issue, hopefully Canon will take the appropriate steps to correct it. If not, good luck, Canon is not customer friendly, and they'll call you unreasonable for asking them to correct a defect in their hardware. I have two of these cameras and both developed dead pixels. So far it's "tough luck" from Canon. Very bad customer service.

Get this used at a very good price and you're laughing. Pay too much and you will most certainly be wishing you had bought a better camera with no inherent pixel issues. Try the Panasonic DVX100B, it's more expensive, but oh is it worth it!

Decent picture in low light

Dead Pixels on CCD

Panasonic DVX100B
Sony PD 150

Absolutely terrible customer service

An amazing all-around camera! Small enough to carry around for hours without crushing you (like the XL-1) with top notch video quality.

Lightweight. Amazing Color. Nice design. Sturdy.

A little expensive but worth it.

This is a great camera , makes great colors. The gl1 has one ove the best lens on the market.

The size of the camera is much more compact then the sony vx1000 and vx2000 ,it also has on handle controls great for filming action sports.

none

Hye. My review is a bit special, cos it's about the european version of the GL1. Why giving my opinion ? Because the camcorder is the same, except the analogic in and the pal recording.
First of all I've never been disappointed by the XM1. I've tested many other camcorders even the direct challengers by SONY. I can say that the picture is always full of details and colors. If you "give" a bit of light to the lens the camcorder will give you the right feedback. I've shot in every conditions you can imagine (by night with snow with wind, by day with sun, with rain, with wind, with low clouds, fog, etc...), and i've never been without colors and contrast. Under a sun shine, the XM1 gives the best you can obtain with a 3CCD.
It's true that the camcorder is not very good by night, I strongely recommand you to have a light to add by night or in darkness...
The sound is very large and deep, full of details. You'll never miss low frequencies or hight ones. It's sometimes amazing what it can catch.
It's true that you can't control and regulate it, but a very usefull function exist : "mic attenuator", which is very good in loud conditions (concert; tiny room with many people, or loud music).
Well the only things I can say is the missing of the analogic in on the XM1, but the DVin allows many things with a good computer and only $150 for a specialized card.
I'd like to give just one advice to american who would like to buy a GL1 : buy an XM1, you'll have 200 TV lines more. The pictures is much better... :-)
I can provide pictures and footage still, if anybody wants, mail me. Bye.
DVhawk

Picture quality; Detailled sound; Image stabilizer; Compact size.

No analogic in.

SONY VX 1000; SONY VX 2000;

An easy to use DV camcorder with an exeptional lens. A very quality Canon lens is the highlight of this camcorder. The 20X optically stabilized lens works very well and the wide zoom range is great for many uses. The setup of the unit is easy for the novice or pro. The built in mic is poor as is the case with most camcorders. Lowlight sensitivity is worse than some of the lower priced Sony and Canon units. The 3 CCD senors coupled with the fine lens produces great video. the standard battery in limited to 30 minutes of use, consider the larger battery for extended shooting.

Lens, picture quality, ease of use, manual abilities

Price, built in mic, size

Sony

N/A