The GL2 rivals?

[mesystudios]

Hey, I'm looking into getting a camera and if I were to spend around the price of a GL2 should I get that or get a different camera? I've been trying to look around but haven't found much so was wondering if people with a more weathered knowledge could help. Thanks.

[WesScog]

What do you want to do with it?

[redtail5]

well, i would wait for sales. the dvx can be on sale for 2k which is only 200 more that the gl2 (i know that seems like a lot but that extra 200 you spend is well worth it!)

[mesystudios]

What do you want to do with it?
I would use it for making amazing school projects and making my own videos. I plan on making some good videos, some shorts and maybe some feature lengths.

[HunnyBunchFilms]

As far as 3 chip cameras go the GL2 is an amazing camera. I would so go for it. But if you want to shoot in HD or 24p the dvx would be better. But I would say it would depend on your experience. If your starting out get the GL2. If you already got some shorts underneath your belt and have some substantial experience get the dvx.

[mopman]

wait... the DVX 100b shoots HD??? since when?

[mesystudios]

As far as 3 chip cameras go the GL2 is an amazing camera. I would so go for it. But if you want to shoot in HD or 24p the dvx would be better. But I would say it would depend on your experience. If your starting out get the GL2. If you already got some shorts underneath your belt and have some substantial experience get the dvx.
It won't be my own film, I've made films with friends, but it will be my first camera other than a camera from the 80s, a digital camera, and a webcam. I'm not sure that it would be harder for me to learn to use the dvx seeing how I'm extremely adept at learning technology and using it. I think it will all come down to price. So it looks like it's between those.

[mesystudios]

wait... the DVX 100b shoots HD??? since when?Yeah now that you mention it, it does shoot in SD doesn't it?

[elscottomagnifico]

Yeah now that you mention it, it does shoot in SD doesn't it?

Yeah, the DVX is a strictly SD camcorder. The newer HVX-200 is supposed to be the new age HD variant. Most of the prosumer HD cameras have been more along the lines of the XL2 and DVX100, but the Canon XH-A1 is fairly close to an HD cross between the GL2 and XL2.

24P is starting to trickle down to consumer territory, along with HD (HV20/HV30 - flawed as the 60i wrapping system without flags may be, it is still convertible to the original 24P).

[elscottomagnifico]

It won't be my own film, I've made films with friends, but it will be my first camera other than a camera from the 80s, a digital camera, and a webcam. I'm not sure that it would be harder for me to learn to use the dvx seeing how I'm extremely adept at learning technology and using it. I think it will all come down to price. So it looks like it's between those.

Then here are a few questions for you so that the suggestions can be more tailored to your needs:

Do you want or may need in near future HD?

Will you be doing any lowlight or controlling your own lighting?

Do the looks of the camera concern you (physical casing - not picture)?

Do you want/hope to mess with 24P?

Do you mind looking into used cams?

[jburas]

wait... the DVX 100b shoots HD??? since when?

actually... http://www.reel-stream.com/andromeda.php
cool stuff, but for the price you could buy a real HD camera

[mesystudios]

Then here are a few questions for you so that the suggestions can be more tailored to your needs:

Do you want or may need in near future HD?

Will you be doing any lowlight or controlling your own lighting?

Do the looks of the camera concern you (physical casing - not picture)?

Do you want/hope to mess with 24P?

Do you mind looking into used cams?I'm not sure if I will want to shoot in HD, I'm not completely aware of what the pros/cons of that would be.

Yes I would like to do low light shots, but I will also control lighting with gels and such.

Looks of the camera don't concern me to much, as long as the camera is real economic, as in comfortable to use and not so terribly complicated to do things you'll need to do a lot such as hide white balance in menus and such.

Not quite sure what 24P is, but if it's an advanced technique... yes =P. I'm new to film, but when I'm new to things like this I immerse myself into it and learn a lot of it. Do you have a reference or would you care to share with me some knowledge about this?

Ye...wait are you trying to sell me an old camera? Haha, but yes I think I would consider a used camera if I was confident in its condition and thought the price deemed it a good buy.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!

[punkandska66]

Since were talking about the GL-2 anyways...

1) Does it have mic inputs?
2) Does it have threads on the front to put adapters on?
3) I have heard that the GL-1 eats tapes, and have some other problems. Those of you with GL-2's have you encountered any problems with yours?

[nooneimportant77]

the GL 2 has a mic input, its not XLR or anything though.

I believe it had threads, but I can check on monday if you want I'll be using one.

and I've never had one eat a tape.

the GL 2 is a solid camera. I've never really experienced any issues worth complaining about, and I've been using them often for about 2 years.

[elscottomagnifico]

I'm not sure if I will want to shoot in HD, I'm not completely aware of what the pros/cons of that would be.

Yes I would like to do low light shots, but I will also control lighting with gels and such.

Looks of the camera don't concern me to much, as long as the camera is real economic, as in comfortable to use and not so terribly complicated to do things you'll need to do a lot such as hide white balance in menus and such.

Not quite sure what 24P is, but if it's an advanced technique... yes =P. I'm new to film, but when I'm new to things like this I immerse myself into it and learn a lot of it. Do you have a reference or would you care to share with me some knowledge about this?

Ye...wait are you trying to sell me an old camera? Haha, but yes I think I would consider a used camera if I was confident in its condition and thought the price deemed it a good buy.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!

The major pro for HD is higher resolution and therefore more picture information to work with in post. The major Con is the processing power needed to edit HD on a computer. You can always output the footage from an HD cam as SD though and keep the original HD file/tape to work with when you upgrade a computer, but SD footage is always SD footage.

24P means 24 frames per second. It is progressive footage (full picture per frame - rather than interlaced fields) at the same rate as film. It is one part of getting video to look as film-esque as possible (many other factors play a part in the look though - lighting and Depth of field are a couple examples)

I'm only asking about used cameras because you can find some nice cameras that you couldn't afford brand new (or that have since been discontinued), which will broaden your possible choices.

[punkandska66]

the GL 2 has a mic input, its not XLR or anything though.

so do you have to get an adapter, or a cord that 1 end is xlr and the other end is a 1/4" phone plug?

I mean, how would you plug it into that?

(sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but i am looking into getting a GL-2)

[mesystudios]

The major pro for HD is higher resolution and therefore more picture information to work with in post. The major Con is the processing power needed to edit HD on a computer. You can always output the footage from an HD cam as SD though and keep the original HD file/tape to work with when you upgrade a computer, but SD footage is always SD footage.

24P means 24 frames per second. It is progressive footage (full picture per frame - rather than interlaced fields) at the same rate as film. It is one part of getting video to look as film-esque as possible (many other factors play a part in the look though - lighting and Depth of field are a couple examples)

I'm only asking about used cameras because you can find some nice cameras that you couldn't afford brand new (or that have since been discontinued), which will broaden your possible choices.
Ok. Well I guess I would like HD, I believe my computer can handle that.

Yes 24P sounds nice.

Do you have any recommendations?

[mesystudios]

so do you have to get an adapter, or a cord that 1 end is xlr and the other end is a 1/4" phone plug?

I mean, how would you plug it into that?

(sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but i am looking into getting a GL-2)
You would need a mic that runs on battery power because phantom power would make it a lot more complicated (and expensive), and then depending on what the mic cable ends in you would buy adapters accordingly. If it ends in XLR you would need to get adapters to get it down to a 1/8" because I believe that's what a GL2 has. Can someone confirm that?If the cord ends in an 1/8" you're fine. Look at this thread http://forum.indymogul.com/showthread.php?t=8894

[elscottomagnifico]

Ok. Well I guess I would like HD, I believe my computer can handle that.

Yes 24P sounds nice.

Do you have any recommendations?

Do you already have other equipment or does your budget include for a tripod, mic and other extras?

If you don't have equipment, you'll be better off getting a slightly cheaper cam - along with, at the very least, a mic and tripod.

[mesystudios]

Do you already have other equipment or does your budget include for a tripod, mic and other extras?

If you don't have equipment, you'll be better off getting a slightly cheaper cam - along with, at the very least, a mic and tripod.Don't worry about a mic and tripod, those are taken care of pretty much, I'm just worried about a camera, my budget will allow me to get something around the GL2's price range, I was also looking into used cameras. This is strictly a camera buying thread, leave other equipment out of this.

[mesystudios]

So I guess it's between the GL2 and the DVX100b unless someone has another recommendation?

Thanks for all your help.

[MitchellStafiej]

So I guess it's between the GL2 and the DVX100b unless someone has another recommendation?

Thanks for all your help.
I would definitely go for the DVX, although I've compared the GL2 with the HV20 and the HV20's results surpassed the GL2 by a lot. The colour was a little better on the GL2, but overall the HV20 blew the GL2 away.

Mitch

[mesystudios]

I would definitely go for the DVX, although I've compared the GL2 with the HV20 and the HV20's results surpassed the GL2 by a lot. The colour was a little better on the GL2, but overall the HV20 blew the GL2 away.

MitchWhat about the HV20 is better? Does it blow the GL2 away bargain wise, as in do you get more for what you pay for? Thanks for your input, this is seriously a really big help to me.

[MitchellStafiej]

What about the HV20 is better? Does it blow the GL2 away bargain wise, as in do you get more for what you pay for? Thanks for your input, this is seriously a really big help to me.
Well the HV20 is 799 at most retailers, and for that price you get a fine HD camcorder. The image is much, much sharper, but there are less manual controls. It has 24p shooting capabilities. It's all a personal decision, do you want more control over your settings or a better picture?

I use a HV20 and I've found myself more accustomed to controlling the features using what's there. Now I'm looking into purchasing a 35mm Adapter very soon and I hope with those two I can get a wonderful image for the amount I paid.

For me quality is what I'm paying for, and the HV20 won hands down in that category.

Mitch

[mesystudios]

^ Well I'd like control over what I'm shooting. Does it have manual focus? This might be a good camera for me, I'm not sure I'll have to research them. Thanks for your info!

[elscottomagnifico]

^ Well I'd like control over what I'm shooting. Does it have manual focus? This might be a good camera for me, I'm not sure I'll have to research them. Thanks for your info!

The HV20 (Now the HV30) has enough manual control to keep you going until you plan to move up to a much more expensive cam. It has manual focus, 24P, very nice HD ability and enough manual control to keep you happy. So long as you buy a mini-sd card, you can have full control over shutterspeed, aperture and gain.

[MitchellStafiej]

The HV20 (Now the HV30) has enough manual control to keep you going until you plan to move up to a much more expensive cam. It has manual focus, 24P, very nice HD ability and enough manual control to keep you happy. So long as you buy a mini-sd card, you can have full control over shutterspeed, aperture and gain.
What's this about an SD card?

[mesystudios]

The HV20 (Now the HV30) has enough manual control to keep you going until you plan to move up to a much more expensive cam. It has manual focus, 24P, very nice HD ability and enough manual control to keep you happy. So long as you buy a mini-sd card, you can have full control over shutterspeed, aperture and gain.
Why would I need a mini-sd card?

[elscottomagnifico]

Without the SD card, you can't have full known control over the settings. Canon kept the controls split as either a shutterspeed or an aperture priority section - for each section, the other option is controlled within the "exposure" (among other things).

With the SD card, you have the ability to half press the photo button, which will display all the current settings (including shutter and aperture) - by doing this you can use the exposure setting to get the desired shutter and aperture. It is often easiest to use shutter priority mode and use the photo button work around to set the aperture accordingly.

Also, by knowing that, unzoomed, the widest aperture possible is 1.8, you can move the exposure to give 2.0 (on the aperture - shown when you half press the photo button) and move back once to 1.8. This will give you the widest aperture, without any additional gain and, therefore, a very clean image.

[mesystudios]

^ But would you have to record to the SD card? Or is it more of a key to unlock the features?

[elscottomagnifico]

^ But would you have to record to the SD card? Or is it more of a key to unlock the features?

The SD card is only to unlock the features. The recording of video still goes to mini-dv tape. You can use the SD card to take still photos though. If you plan to use a regular still camera though, look for the smallest/cheapest mini-SD card you can find and use that.

[mesystudios]

The SD card is only to unlock the features. The recording of video still goes to mini-dv tape. You can use the SD card to take still photos though. If you plan to use a regular still camera though, look for the smallest/cheapest mini-SD card you can find and use that.
That's really odd haha. I think I might go with the HV30. Thanks for all of your input and help. I won't make the purchase for a few months so people can still comment and help!