GL1 vs. GL2

Bill Hardy · May 24th, 2003, 06:45 PM

There is a resolution improvement but not a dramatic one between the GL1/GL2. So if you are counting on a big resolution boost think again. More control over your video and audio is a big plus though.

Paul Nuttall · January 7th, 2004, 08:55 AM

Hello all. I will be shooting a wedding at night, indoors, with a GL2 & Gl1.
My plan was to use the GL2 in frame mode and at 1/30 shutter. But, the GL1 (also will use frame mode) will not do 1/30 shutter, only as low as 1/60.

If I use the Gl2 in frame mode at 1/60 to match the GL1 1/60 does that affect the picture quality at all, will I be losing anything? I guess my real question is does shutter speed affect frame mode?

Any other recommendations on matching these 2 cams up in a low light situation?

Thanks.

Imran Zaidi · January 7th, 2004, 09:26 AM

The GL2 functions best no lower than 1/60, so you should definitely run both at no lower than this. There are very rare occasions when 1/30 might be necessary; namely low-light, where you don't care too much about clarity.

John Lee · January 7th, 2004, 09:41 AM

I agree with Imran. I've found the GL2 looks a lot better above 1/60, but if the light is low, it's worth dropping to 1/30 rather than boosting the gain (assuming you've opened up the iris all the way and tried all the other options).

Rob Easler · January 7th, 2004, 09:43 AM

Well I have a GL2 and do sometimes use a GL1 with The GL2 and other cams for weddings. I have never used frame mode nor 1/30 shutter for wedding because of the strobing associated with that stuff. The shutter speed produces more strobing effects than the frame mode alone. Sure there will be more light but man 1/60 shutter will produce severe strobing. I guess if the couple is prepared for that...you do loose apparent resolution when you go into frame mode (more on the GL1 than the GL2) and again for both cams when you go 1/30 or 1/60 shutter. You probably already know you'll have to color corect to match the footage as the GL1 is more yellow and the GL2 more pink for indoor shots regardless of white balance.

Chris Harvey · January 21st, 2004, 04:52 PM

If I tape a wedding with two cameras (one gl1 and one gl2) will there be any noticeable difference in video quality between these two cameras? I am planning on purchasing a new gl2 this summer but I don't want to use my one chip camera for a second. I would like to pick up a used gl1 and was wondering if that would work alright? Thanks for your help.

Chris Harvey

Ken Tanaka · January 21st, 2004, 05:12 PM

The average viewer would probably not notice much difference.

I own a GL2 and, previously, owned a GL1. Both excellent cameras! If I was mixing their footage and wanted to be very persnickety about it I would consider making two adjustments.

1. On the GL2, turn the sharpness down 1 click. The GL2 produces a noticably sharper standard image than the GL1.

2. On the GL1, (am stretching my memory a bit) turn the color saturation DOWN 1 click. The GL1 can be just a bit over-saturated as compared to the Gl2.

Hope this is helpful to you. Good luck on your shoot!

Rob Easler · January 21st, 2004, 10:31 PM

I've shot weddings mixing GL2 and GL1 footage. Besides what Ken said, reserve the GL2 for the better shot position. Also in post you are going to need to color correct to match the shots. If it is outdoor footage it might not be needed at all but inside shooting it will. The GL2 flesh tones are often pinkish in comparison to the GL1 tones indoors. I suppose you don't have to do it but I definately would. It was a very noticable difference to me.

Clint Newman · April 29th, 2004, 05:47 AM

Hi,

Does anyone have a site that compares the features of the GL1 with the GL2?

I have been doing some searching, but have not had much luck

Thanks

Rob Easler · April 29th, 2004, 08:20 AM

Yeah, this site. Just do a search here for "GL1 vs GL2" and read away...

Clint Newman · April 29th, 2004, 03:30 PM

Will do!!

Thanks!

Andre Lapucha · May 14th, 2004, 08:45 AM

Hello,

I have been happily using GL1 for over four years and have a need for the second camera. First thing that came to mind was GL2. I tested most features at local camera store except for one. Is it true that VHS, or DVD's can be recorded directly into iMovie or Premiere (I am on Mac) using GL2 as a pass through device without recording to miniDV tape first. This direction does not work with GL1, only the opposite, from computer to VHS or DVD. Thanks

Andre

Graham Bernard · May 14th, 2004, 09:32 AM

. .er . .can you ask this a different way . . ? Please!

Grazie

Ming Dong · May 14th, 2004, 09:56 AM

VHS --> GL2 ---> PC (Premiere Pro)

Simply connect your VCR to your GL2 with the supplied composite video cable, then connect your GL2 to your PC using a Firewire cable. Lastly, enable passthru on your GL2.

The only tricky (?) part is capturing with Premiere Pro since you will not have "device control".

Jeffery Patch · May 23rd, 2004, 03:59 PM

You can do this with your GL1!!! I do! It doesn't work in Final Cut Pro because you don't have device control with the camera in Camera mode. It works great in iMovie though!

I used it to get some clips off of my tivo of a couple tv shows I was an extra in.

January 7th, 2004, 08:55 AM	#17
Paul Nuttall New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 22	GL2 & Gl1 Matchup Hello all. I will be shooting a wedding at night, indoors, with a GL2 & Gl1. My plan was to use the GL2 in frame mode and at 1/30 shutter. But, the GL1 (also will use frame mode) will not do 1/30 shutter, only as low as 1/60. If I use the Gl2 in frame mode at 1/60 to match the GL1 1/60 does that affect the picture quality at all, will I be losing anything? I guess my real question is does shutter speed affect frame mode? Any other recommendations on matching these 2 cams up in a low light situation? Thanks.

January 7th, 2004, 09:41 AM	#19
John Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 152	I agree with Imran. I've found the GL2 looks a lot better above 1/60, but if the light is low, it's worth dropping to 1/30 rather than boosting the gain (assuming you've opened up the iris all the way and tried all the other options). __________________ John Lee Levelse7en@gmail.com

January 21st, 2004, 04:52 PM	#21
Chris Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 72	Mixing footage from gl1 with gl2? If I tape a wedding with two cameras (one gl1 and one gl2) will there be any noticeable difference in video quality between these two cameras? I am planning on purchasing a new gl2 this summer but I don't want to use my one chip camera for a second. I would like to pick up a used gl1 and was wondering if that would work alright? Thanks for your help. Chris Harvey

January 21st, 2004, 05:12 PM	#22
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	The average viewer would probably not notice much difference. I own a GL2 and, previously, owned a GL1. Both excellent cameras! If I was mixing their footage and wanted to be very persnickety about it I would consider making two adjustments. 1. On the GL2, turn the sharpness down 1 click. The GL2 produces a noticably sharper standard image than the GL1. 2. On the GL1, (am stretching my memory a bit) turn the color saturation DOWN 1 click. The GL1 can be just a bit over-saturated as compared to the Gl2. Hope this is helpful to you. Good luck on your shoot! __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 29th, 2004, 05:47 AM	#24
Clint Newman New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Australia, Gold Coast Posts: 10	GL1 v GL2 Hi, Does anyone have a site that compares the features of the GL1 with the GL2? I have been doing some searching, but have not had much luck Thanks

May 24th, 2003, 06:45 PM	#16
Bill Hardy Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 205	There is a resolution improvement but not a dramatic one between the GL1/GL2. So if you are counting on a big resolution boost think again. More control over your video and audio is a big plus though.

January 7th, 2004, 09:26 AM	#18
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	The GL2 functions best no lower than 1/60, so you should definitely run both at no lower than this. There are very rare occasions when 1/30 might be necessary; namely low-light, where you don't care too much about clarity.

January 7th, 2004, 09:43 AM	#20
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Well I have a GL2 and do sometimes use a GL1 with The GL2 and other cams for weddings. I have never used frame mode nor 1/30 shutter for wedding because of the strobing associated with that stuff. The shutter speed produces more strobing effects than the frame mode alone. Sure there will be more light but man 1/60 shutter will produce severe strobing. I guess if the couple is prepared for that...you do loose apparent resolution when you go into frame mode (more on the GL1 than the GL2) and again for both cams when you go 1/30 or 1/60 shutter. You probably already know you'll have to color corect to match the footage as the GL1 is more yellow and the GL2 more pink for indoor shots regardless of white balance.

January 21st, 2004, 10:31 PM	#23
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	I've shot weddings mixing GL2 and GL1 footage. Besides what Ken said, reserve the GL2 for the better shot position. Also in post you are going to need to color correct to match the shots. If it is outdoor footage it might not be needed at all but inside shooting it will. The GL2 flesh tones are often pinkish in comparison to the GL1 tones indoors. I suppose you don't have to do it but I definately would. It was a very noticable difference to me.

April 29th, 2004, 08:20 AM	#25
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	Yeah, this site. Just do a search here for "GL1 vs GL2" and read away...

April 29th, 2004, 03:30 PM	#26
Clint Newman New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Australia, Gold Coast Posts: 10	Will do!! Thanks!

May 14th, 2004, 08:45 AM	#27
Andre Lapucha Tourist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Rockford, Michigan Posts: 3	from GL1 to GL2 Hello, I have been happily using GL1 for over four years and have a need for the second camera. First thing that came to mind was GL2. I tested most features at local camera store except for one. Is it true that VHS, or DVD's can be recorded directly into iMovie or Premiere (I am on Mac) using GL2 as a pass through device without recording to miniDV tape first. This direction does not work with GL1, only the opposite, from computer to VHS or DVD. Thanks Andre __________________ Andre

May 14th, 2004, 09:32 AM	#28
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	. .don't know if I'm coming or going . . . .er . .can you ask this a different way . . ? Please! Grazie

May 14th, 2004, 09:56 AM	#29
Ming Dong Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 92	Yes, GL2 can be used as passthru device VHS --> GL2 ---> PC (Premiere Pro) Simply connect your VCR to your GL2 with the supplied composite video cable, then connect your GL2 to your PC using a Firewire cable. Lastly, enable passthru on your GL2. The only tricky (?) part is capturing with Premiere Pro since you will not have "device control".

May 23rd, 2004, 03:59 PM	#30
Jeffery Patch Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 41	You can do this with your GL1!!! I do! It doesn't work in Final Cut Pro because you don't have device control with the camera in Camera mode. It works great in iMovie though! I used it to get some clips off of my tivo of a couple tv shows I was an extra in. __________________ -Jeffery Patch www.jeffpatch.com www.pbase.com/jeffpatch www.xedgehosting.com