i agree with ken. if anything i feel the gl2 is better made than the gl1... there is definately a difference in body material between the two but unlike john, who is entitled to his opinion, i think the gl2's construction looks and feels more sound than that of the gl1's

It might be surprising to some GL1 owners that the GL2 is so much comparatively lighter in weight. However, both have a magnesium alloy frame. Despite being consumer products, they'll hold up as long as they're treated with care.

blown pixel on my gl-1. how much to fix it?
 

i just noticed a blown out pixel on my gl1? any idea on how much to fix it? should i just sell it and buy a new camera? i dont know if anyone would even want a gl1 with a blown pixel, but for my work i can not have it and need to sell it or get it fixed asap.

Alfred,

Either of the two Canon service centers (see this page for contact info) can repair a hot pixel. They'll give you an estimate, and please let us know what they tell you. Hope this helps,

Anybody for Black 'n White E/P or LCD?
 

Well, we got this manual focus ring. We got Zebra Bars. We got full colour LCDs and Eyepieces . . . why can't we have BnW displays?

I'd find this a real boon to my rubbish focussing . . well I aint that bad . . . but really!

It can't be much more than a switch or Menu thingy? Canon have gone to the whole schmuzzl with zebra bars, this has GOT to be more complex . . . we got 3ccd, we got the 3 colours . . why not make more of what got and have a BnW option too? Do I really have to buy an extra lil BnW Lcd external and connect it through the BNC connector to get BnW? - Well, really Mr. Canon, c'mon1 I tell you what, having this function available would make me more confident about focussing - yeah? If the XM2 has relatively a harder job of low light level hassles, having the focus option the way I describe would make me a better cameraman. I love the XM2 . . please, please, please give the option to go BnW with one of the on board monitors . . pretty please!

. . now someone is gonna tell to RTFM! . . .I don't think so . . if it is in there . . don't I feel the Numbnutz . .

hey ho . . . .

Grazie

problems recording VCR to XM2
 

hiya

Today I decided to test the AV in/out socket on my XM2 by using it as a linear edit deck. i'm putting together a simple promo of a theatre performance, and just need to record some clips from my domestic PAL VHS player onto the XM2. (I will eventually be paying someone to transfer the DV master edit onto NTSC DVD for worry-free playback in the states)

Here's the problem:

When I make all connections etc. and play video from the VCR, the audio comes thru fine but the only video I get is a blank screen. I have also tried connecting TV to the XM2, and get the same problem. Whatever channel is selected on the TV, the audio comes thru fine to the XM2, but no video, only blank screen.

I am using SCART output from TV, and a SCART converter so I can use my A/V cable into XM2. All cables work fine.

strange quirk - audio only comes thru when I connect to RCA (phono) audio outputs from VCR. It does not come thru when I use the scart output socket on VCR, SCART converter.

This leads me to think something is weird with the video signal a PAL VCR sends to the camera from the scart socket. Have tried changing channels etc. on VCR but no luck. Have also tried a different, older VCR, same problems.

I've followed the instructions in the manual TO THE LETTER and still no loooooove....

any suggestions? I really hope my Analog Video input isn't screwed for some reason... this is the 1st time I've tried to use it in the year I've owned the camera. I tried something similar hooking a security camera to an XL1s last year, it worked fine.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions from people who are used to recording analog video etc. I really hope I wont have to resort to editing on VHS cos the resulting DVD will look soooooooooooooooooooooo crappy...

thanks for taking the time to wade thru the above, I hope I was specific enough

Hagop

Are you using the SCART adapter that came with the camera?

The one that comes with the camera only works one way IN from RCA - OUT to SCART. (At least in my case).

In electronic shops they sale RCA to SCART adapters that have a switch IN/OUT that changes the flow of the signal.

That solved me the same problem, and I few others I know too.

Frame mode
 

Hello.

I am working with my GL2. I like the frame mode very much so I never shot in a normal mode.

My question is: Is frame mode on a GL2 close to the dvx100? I mean - I like cinematic, artistic look. I also know that in this case Pan is better, but if I put for example Magic bullet plugin on a footage taken with GL2, recorded in very good conditions with good light, camera movement, small depth of field etc.?

I have read that Mr.Barry Goyette have the both of these models...

Thanx...

Marko Zorec

It would be close to the DVX's 30P mode, but not as sharp.

No Sound
 

Could anyone give me any info on why I cannot get sound from my GL-1? I have followed directions in the manual and I still can't get sound - even when transferred to NLE - no sound. Please help. The same problem with 2 of my cameras.

Sharon:

• When you play the tape in VCR mode, can you hear anything through headphones or speakers on any of you cameras?
  
• If you are using the same cable when trying to transfer to your NLE, and multiple cameras are not getting sound, I'd suspect the cable rather than the cameras.
  
• Finally - I had a similar situation that was driving me nuts when I finally realized I had plugged things into the wrong holes! It's probably not the case, but you might want to double check for user error just in case...

Rubber protective strips - temporary removal?
 

Sometimes it would be nice to TEMPORARILY remove the protective rubber strips on the rear and side of the gl2 when attatching accessories during the shoot - such as monitor out, headphones, microphone, ect.

Right now I just leave the rubber cap flopping - but along with a strap of some sort, a hanging lense cap, and my hand in the jumble somplace - it's just gotta go.

I pulled on them once and wiggled them around, thinking maybe they were just held in by a nub inside the hole and would just cleanly pop out, then I can force the nub back into the hole after the shoot to re-attatch. Well, they weren't budging. I felt I was about to break the rubber connecting tie, so I let it be.

Has anyone gotten these things off their camrea by some non-destructive means? I want em' off, but I want to put them back on too for that day I'm shooting in a dust storm on the beach. ;-)

. . yeah, Form over Function . . can help on the Lens cap thing though. Look on the rear of the lens cap itself. You will see a clip - yeah? I slip this "through" the first loop on the Velcro Hand strao - neat eh?

But the rubber cover thing . . yup... agree with you . . not thought through. Removal is a one way surgical option . . nah! Not good design at all . .

Grazie

Still No Sound
 

Thanks for the quick reply. It's the strangest thing - I've checked everything and it appears that all is correctly connected. I can get no sound at all, even with headphones. However, when I plug the firewire into another camera, the sound works fine. I have 4 cameras, two with no sound. I'm baffled.

GL2 Sample Movie - Just a short clip
 

Does anybody have some GL2 footage I could see...I really only want about 5-10 seconds but I'm trying to use it to compare camcorders since no shops near me have a GL2 to look at. If possible do you have any uncompressed footage that's short? I've noticed that most picture quality looks about the same if its converted to wmv which seems to be the new standard in showing movie clips now (at least it is for my friends and others I know)! Thanks a BUNCH!!

Tim

I dont know if there is a MAC store near you but the one buy be carrys gl2's I never knew it till i went in there. just trying to help

If you send me an email address I'll email you some raw full size clips. If you dont have a fast connection however nevermind.

Please give a very detailed statement of what you have recorded, how it was recorded (including connectiosn and settings), and how you are trying to play it back.

That sounds like the stroke of genius I was looking for. I always forget those converters only work one way.

will try n buy a switching one at my local shop. thanks for the tip!

Hagop

GL2 Microphone Damage
 

The onboard microphone on my GL2 recently was dropped onto a solid rock surface from about four feet. As you might imagine, the rock won the battle. The microphone surface is damaged and the only thing it will pick up is wind noise. Not your optimal recording scenario.

I can obviously send it into service, but was also thinking of buying a DM-50 microphone, which is probably cheaper than getting it fixed.

There aren't any local dealers that sell the microphone. I hate to buy it unless I know it will work. Should it function even though the onboard microphone doesn't?

Everything else seems to be working with no problem.

Phil

The only question is, did the accessory shoe mount on top of the built-in mic suffer any damage and does it still work? Without a trip to the service center, the only way to really find out is to plug in the DM-50 mic and find out. Or plug in a VL-3 onboard light, it's only $50 and very handy. If the hot shoe electrical connections aren't damaged, then the DM-50 should work well for you, barring any other internal damage. I recommend you get the cam to a service center anyway as soon as it's convenient for you. Hope this helps,

mic attachment
 

Hello, I just have my me66 for my xm2
Have anyone a picture, so that I can see how to attach the mic without using the acc shoe

Thanks Erwin
ebfkolman@home.nl

GL-2 "freezes up"
 

A few weeks ago I was shooting a wedding when all of a sudden I lost all control of my GL-2...the zoom would not work, pause/run did not work. The viewfinder indicated 'rec." but the counter was not moving. I saw that the cassette was moving but wasn't sure what (if anything) was being recorded. I tried powering down and then powering back up but same result. Finally, I removed the battery - re-installed the battery and everything went back to normal.

Later on I viewed the tape and it was recording OK during this 'frozen' period. My question - has this happened to anyone else? I have used the camera since then with no problems. After I finished with the tape I re-recorded over the section where the camera froze and it was fine so It wasn't the tape. Any thought on what happened would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Herm Stork
herm@videoworks.biz

Herm,

I had the exact same problem, thought it was the battery, changed it but nothing happened. Reverted back to the half used battery and all was well again, I put this down to me being a newbie at the time.

Maybe not???

Rebate?
 

Has anyone received their rebate check from Canon? How long did it take?

GL2 Custom Key
 

So... what's a custom key? I just purchased a GL2, and the answer eludes me. The manual tells me how to use this feature, but it doesn't tell me what the feature IS! I'm assuming that it's just a quick trick button for certain settings, such as turning the zebra stripes on and off without going through the menus, but I'd like somebody to clear it up for me once and for all. Thanks.

Robert,

Exactly! Don't you love it when instructions almost make sense! It's a user programmable button that you can assign anyone of several functions to. Just a easy way to turn on/off a particular feature without having to scroll through a bunch of menu.

. . oh yes! The Manual should have come with its own CP key explaining this valuable function. Something along the lines of:

"You wanna film inside a church where you have mixed lighthing and you've been filming on AUTO externally, then this is what your could select, . . . . . . and then assign this to a . . . .

Yeah, drove me mad for some months, I can tell you!!!

Grazie

Just got mine today. Took almost exactly 8 weeks from the day it was sent in.

MS

Canon logo disapears!?
 

Hi,

When I started filming voor the first 10 times I first got a "movie" with the words Canon in my viewfinder/ LCD screen.
After +- 10 times using it, the "canon movie" disapears. I now only see a black/gray screen for a few seconds, and than I can get start filming.

Resetting the camera does help, but how can I always see this movie instead of resetting the camera.

Gabriel

I mailed mine in at the end of August. I checked my e-mail from Canon and it indicates the check was mailed on Oct 29th. Haven't received the check yet (Nov 3rd). However, it looks like it is taking slightly more than 8 weeks.

Phil

what is a PCB?
 

i just got my camera back from canon to have it serviced for the blank white screen that would show up on my lcd and in the service details it says they replaced camera PCB ASSY along w/ some other adjustments.
its more out of curiosity as to what was done to my cam but does anyone know what PCB means?

PCB = Printed circuit board

Chris F.

would they have had to remove the glass on my lens to get to this?
because it came back with a nice little white speck of something underneath the glass that i now have to send BACK to canon to get fixed...putting all my projects off again for another 2 weeks.

25p With Xm2?!?!
 

Hi, I recently sold my GL2 in the hopes of purchasing the dvx100. Unfortunately I can't seem to get the money together! :)

My question is this: Would it be a good idea to purchase the XM2 (pal version,) even though I live in the US? I am REALLY after the film look and if the XM2 can give me 25P thats damn close enough!!

JUST AS IMPORTANT: Is it easy to convert PAL to NTSC in either After Effects or Vegas 4, once you have exported your final project (in pal)?

PLEASE! ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

Thanks!!!

Matt

Image Stablization On = Less Field of View?
 

I heard this once, I don't remember where, but I never had the question answered.

Does having image stablization on make the field of view less wide compared to having the image stablization off?

Ryan Krga

Hello Ryan.
You might be referring to versions of electronic image stabilization in which the image is oversampled on the CCD. A subset of those "gross" pixels are then recorded after the camera dynamically nudges them in the x/y plane to attempt stabilization.

I don't think that this presents any narrower field of view, since the "gross" area of the picture is not really part of the main frame anyway.

Matt,
At first glance it would seem to be a close match, eh? 25fps in Frame mode -vs- 24fps progressive? There have been many discussions on the topic of using PAL in NTSC-land and no definitive answer.

Here are two big factors to consider.

1. Dealing with PAL outside of your computer will be a bit of a hassle, and could become a much more expensive undertaking than just saving-up for the DVX100. For starters, you'll need a PAL-capable production monitor unless you plan to completely stay within the computer realm. There are many dual PAL/NTSC production monitors available but they're not cheap.

2. Buying a PAL camera in the U.S. will probably mean that any repairs will have to be made overseas. Canon's U.S. service facilities are not set up to deal with PAL equipment.

In the end, of course, you will still not have a true 24p camera. If that's what you really want, my advice would be to wait and continue saving for it.

What do you think?
 

Someone posted this on dv.com's cam forum.

THANKS FOR THE REPLY
 

Your probably right. I think im just going to keep saving for another month or two unless someone gives me a reason to do otherwise! :)