which camera is better? i've narrowed my search down to these 2. looking at the specs, they have just about the same features. help would be appreciated.

Hello Ryan,

There is no single answer to your question.

From a purely technical perspective the XL1S is the better and more versatile semi-pro camera with it's 1/3" CCD. But the GL2 can rival it in terms of footage quality even though it only has a 1/4" CCD.

From a practical perspective, however, the answer really depends on your needs, your budget and your experience. There are, for example, significant differences in physical design and handling between these two cameras.

Spend some time browsing the GL2 and the XL1 forums here. You'll probably learn more than you ever wanted to know about these cameras. Also spend some time looking at the Canon site (www.canondv.com). There you can download the owners manuals for these cameras and get a very good idea of how they each function on paper. (Despite their obvious physical differences the GL2 and XL1S are very similar in their electronic user interfaces.)

Have fun.

i think a big thing about xl1s is the ability to change lenses. note that all the other camcorders have to use adapters for that purpose.

Besides the lens changing you can also swap out the viewfinder
for a full B/W CRT model and some more easier access to certain
controls. I'm not sure the GL2 supports presets?

XL1 has no LCD and is a bitch to hold for a long period of time. I know because I just shot with it last night ;-) However the look always impresses talent and clients.

Ryan,

What do you intend to shoot. Both cameras are great tools but one can be better than the other for certain types of shooting. If you are interested in independant film then I'd go with the XL due to the interchangability of components and range of accessories. If you are interested in making sports videos or something that requires a high degree of mobility then the smaller form factor of the GL is a huge advantage.