is there any way to do this manually? i lost my manual, and the only thing that seems to brighten the shot is the shutter...

Use the AE shift button to set the exposure. If you set the shutter speed first, you'll have limited control over the iris. The AE shift button is the red button on the back where it says EXP.

i can't fiqure it out. . . i can only adjust the exposure...?

That's as manual as the Optura 300 gets. You can set the shutter speed and then adjust the exposure.

pretty lame. LOL. i never realized how this camera was til i got my gl-2.

You get what you pay for. The Optura 300 is less than half the price of the GL2. The Optura is strictly a consumer camcorder. High-end consumer, for sure, but still not all that well suited for professional work like the GL2 is.

By the way, you can download a .PDF copy of the Optura 300 manual for www.canondv.com.