I was wondering how the GL2 performs in low light compaired to the VX2100. Right now at B and H there is about a $700 difference between the two in price...is it work it?

thanks
Rusty™

This depends on how low the "low light" is.

I don't know how it compares to that camera, but I have found the GL2 to be pretty poor in low light (with 1/4" CCDs) compared to PD150s or that class of 1/3" CCD camera. I shot with a GL2 in a dark bar and the only color, and I mean ONLY color picked up was red, even with very high gain. I also shot a stage play with a GL2 in center and PD150's on left and right (so same level of light from all angles), and the PD150s outperformed the GL2 very significantly. So the questions to ask are what are the CCD size (bigger is better) and the number of pixels (more is better) and that'll tell you, but a difference from 1/4" to 1/3" CCDs is signficiant and worth the money I'd say, but I don't know how big the VX2100 CCDs are.

What about the 20x lens on the GL2? Isn't there a substantial improvement of the Canon lens over the Sony 12x? The 20x, the common menu and operating controls to the already familiar XL-1S, common batteries and dual charger, and 2" shorter length are my reasons for intending to buy the GL2, despite low light performance. Please correct me if my thinking on these benefits is not correct! My main application is travel documentaries, mostly outdoors, not on a tripod (hand held). Also how do the OIS compare?

Also how do the OIS compare?I believe they both work equally as good. Chris Hurd had mentioned that Sony uses Canon's OIS technology.

Where do you see this "$700 differerence in price"?

I 'll bet the Canon optics are better.

Agreed.

You can get one extra stop of low light ability by shooting in frame mode at 1/30 second.

The motion signature looks just fine......