XL1s Compared GL1
 

I was about to buy the XL1s and had a chance to compare with my XM1 yesterday.
It was disapointing. There was really no visual difference in the pictures on the screen.
All shot´s made with everything set on AUTO on the camcorders and all outdoor.
We didn´t make any test in lowlight. Perhaps XL1s is better under those conditions?

We did compare to the JVC 500 1/2" CCD also and found it was much more crisp than the Canon camera´s but also a completely different Color.

Kjeld

The differences will show up as you push the shooting environment; e.g., poor light.

I really like the flexibility the xl1s has. Lots of presets for wt. balance, personal settings, etc. It allows great manual control.

Is it worth twice the price? Depends on if you shoot on auto or really like to get into all the details. I don't have a side by side comparison, but I'm sure the xl1s is better in low light.

Assuming that the gl1 is of comparable image quality, it's a great bargain.

I know I'd love to have the 20x zoom!

As Don noted, the distinction of the XL1s is its adaptability and adjustability. The GL1 is an excellent cam, speaking as an owner of both. It's very handy for run-and-gun work as well as occasions where you need to be a bit less obtrusive. With the XL1s, however, you can basically tweak your imaging (ex: sharpness, gain, etc.) to get more precise results, particularly with challenging lighting. Also, the XL1s' audio capabilities far exceed the GL1's. True, you do need an MA-100 or MA-200 to get the full benefit of it's audio capabilities. But these are relatively low-cost add-ons.

So I'd recommend getting the cam that best suits your needs.

The GL1 is also much sweeter when you have a long shoot, and will be moving around. 3 hrs carrying the XL1s is not fun. IMHO, I also think that it slightly edges out the XL1 with zoom.