All I can say is WOW

Author's Rating:

Pros: Great picture, great value

Cons: price

Author's Review
About a month and a half ago I got into a video editing class. At the start of the class we had a whole bunch of Cannon Eluras. They were really great camcorders and all, that is until the point where we got the GL1's in. About a week into the class we received the order for 3 of the Cannon GL1's. I took the camera out for the next few classes and played with it to see just what it could do.

Ok the first thing I noticed about the GL1 is how easy it is to handle. It's very easy to get a clean stable shot. Everything fits perfectly to your hand and it feels great to use this camera. Despite how it looks in pictures the GL1 is actually very small, much smaller then I had thought it to be. Of course it is still bigger then the Elura and other similar models but there was a reason behind that. You can always make a camcorder smaller and at some point it just becomes too small. Then again a camera can be to big making it very awkward to use. The GL1 is the happy median. You can take it anywhere with you with ease, it's easy to carry when shooting and its not too small to the point where it gets harder to get great shots.

You may have noticed that it only comes with a 2.5in view screen. I normally prefer bigger ones like 3-4in, but I hardly even noticed it and found that it was the perfect size. You can even grab the camera by the handle and use it to film by your side using the view screen and it works very well.

It also comes with Optical Image Stabilization that corrects camera shake instantly, which greatly increases you ability to get a stable shot with a shaky hand.

Now this is where the GL1 really shines, picture quality. The GL1 uses 3 CCD image sensor to create true-to-life quality images; each CCD processes a primary color separately. Another feature I really loved about the GL1 was the little computer inside that controls the image and how the camera adjusts to light. It does a great job of identifying the kind of light you are in and adjusting so you get a very clear shot. I never had to worry once about not having enough light for a shot. Then, when I finally finished shooting I loaded the video to the computer and watched it over. The picture quality was nothing less then professional and would be very hard to beat.

Now I just wish I had one of these to take home with me. I would say if you were thinking about getting a camcorder that is was above average, but not outrageous this is the one for you. You just cant beat all the features and quality for this price. Maybe someday I will have one of these for myself. Like when they go down in price. For now it's only out there for the lucky ones and me when ever I am in class. Don't miss out on this camera and get it if you have the chance, you won't be disappointed.

I will also write more about it after I get a chance to try it for a longer time.