GL2

Happy Thanksgiving All

I Find I need to add some video element to my photography business and am looking for info about the canon GL2 Video camera. Will it handle the low light situations on stage and gyms. I am currently shooting with my 1DIIn and 400MM 2.8 IS at 80,2.8,1600iso. Was planing on bypassing the tape carriage problem by using hardrive for recording. Any thoughts??? Ive read countless reviews on the camera and wanted some real input from some members that have actually used it in these situations.

Thanks

i had one. loved it. wife did not. it left. great camera. IIRC low light was not a real issue for the gl2.

Did you ever shoot stage or gyms? Did you have the dreaded tape carriage problem?

Thanks for the reply.

I use the UK version of this camera, the old XM1 and find it handles low light great. I use it in churches for weddings and other events which call for low light without additional lighting, What is this tape carriage problem, I have never heard of it.

On some of the units if you use the camera to playback or even rewind the tapes, the tape carriage mechanism fails, gives some kind of tape eject error, eats the tape and then off to canon to fix.

I'd recommend you try and find a Sony VX2000/VX2100 or PD150/PD170. They are much better in lighting like you are describing. I had a GL2 about 3 years ago and traded it in on a PD170, very big difference in low light.
Also if you need pro audio hookups, the PD170 has XLR inputs on it, which is very useful.

Am I right in believing that the OP can record direct to a hard drive bypassing the tape. I know it will record to a computer, I'm I missing something.

Well I found a Gl2 with a few extras for 1600 from a private seller. He says he never had the tape carriage problem and I havent experienced it yet. It was a year old. Bought a firestore fs4 so I can go tapeless and avoid any of those problems. Shooting in an auditorium soon and will let you know how it handles the light.

Canon had mine more than I did due to tape transport problems, then the lens started zooming out and in randomly. I fixed it by throwing it out ( cameras that don't work aren't worh much ) and replacing it with a Panasonic DVX 100A. It works great and seems to shoot higher quality video than my XL1. The XL1 is eaier to use though...
Just my .02 worth.