Some GL2 questions -- low light, etc. at DVinfo.net

Marko Zorec · September 29th, 2003, 07:14 AM

Hello again,

I have some more questions about Canon's GL2 model.

First of all - how does its STILL CAMERA mode work? Are pictures good enough? Is there option to manual adjust iris and shutter like in a VIDEO mode?

Second question is about MACRO. I want to record also little grasshoppers or spiders, how close will I go with my lens?

Third question - is Canon's FRAME MODE as good or even better like in a PANASONIC PVDV953 model?

Thanx!

Marko Zorec

Marko Zorec · September 29th, 2003, 07:17 AM

JUST ONE MORE THING...

What about low light capatibilities? Can I take footages really in candlelight conditions? Or in a room in the evening with lights on, but no additional PRO lights?

Thanx again,

Marko Zorec

Chris Hurd · September 29th, 2003, 07:49 AM

We just had a whole thread about macro. Basically it's built-in. Zoom out all the way wide, take off the lens hood and you can focus right on the glass.

Roland Barth · September 29th, 2003, 03:09 PM

Marko,
I better be careful here and not tee off the "Kennelmaster".
But if you're really into spiders and grasshoppers, you're better off zooming all the way in and shooting at about 1 meter. That way your critters may hold still; they surely will move when you zoom all the way out and get up really close.
Cheers,
Roland

Ken Tanaka · September 29th, 2003, 03:32 PM

Marco,
The subjects of all of your questions have many, many postings so please use our Search to do more extensive research.

The GL2's still photo facility is not nearly as good as digital still cams. It may be "good enough" for your purposes, whatever that may be. But get digital still camera for best results. The GL2's a video camera.

The popular opinion is that Sony's are better for low/no light shooting.

I can't compare frame mode between the two cameras.

Chris Hurd · September 29th, 2003, 09:30 PM

I believe Roland's advice is better than mine when it comes to real, live critters. The farther away you are, the less likely they'll move out of the field of view.

Marko Zorec · September 30th, 2003, 12:59 AM

Thankx for the answers,

in that time I have read all of the opinions in this forum which relate on my questions...

About photo mode: I expected that it is not as good as it is in the digital still cameras. I own an analogue Nikon F 65 and really good lens, I will stay on that thing for photo shooting. I was just asking myself how good or bad is the gl2's photo mode... I will buy it for video shootings of course... :)

About macro: I prefer to zoom in and be as far as it is possible from the object. Then also the field of depth is smaller.

Thanx...

Marko Zorec

Joris Beverloo · September 30th, 2003, 12:40 PM

Hi Marko,

This summer I did some macro shots with my XM2 (GL2). I bought a close up lens (number 3) and these kind of lenses give you the ability to use the full zoom range when being close to a subject. Te lower the number of your close up lens, the further away you must be from the subject in order to use full zoom.
With the number 3 lens you can use full zoom when being about 30 to 40 cm (about 12 to 14 inch) away from the subject.

Here are 2 samples I have shot: first one I happenend to be trying out my new bought close up lens on a flower when a fly landed. And the second sample is of a baby frog in the garden, little bigger than the nail on your thumb.

http://members.lycos.nl/rezahormes/image/fly.jpg
http://members.lycos.nl/rezahormes/image/frog.jpg

by the way, these are captured frames, not photos.

Roland Barth · September 30th, 2003, 02:31 PM

Great images, Joris.
Please tell us more about the "number 3" close-up lense (brand and cost). Did you use the "frame" or "normal" movie mode for these images?
Roland

Joris Beverloo · October 1st, 2003, 02:37 AM

Hi Roland,

I purchased the close up lens in my local photo shop. On internet I saw they also called it diopters. The ones I bought were from B&W but Tiffen also has them.

some more einformation on them is on this page
http://www.schneideroptics.com/filte...sion/diopters/

Hope you find what you need

Marko Zorec · October 1st, 2003, 02:51 AM

Hello,

The fly is really amazing. And how much cost this diopter?

Thanx,

Marko Zorec

Joris Beverloo · October 1st, 2003, 07:49 AM

oh yes hehe I forgot to post what the costs were, sorry! I payed somewhere around 30 euro for it...wich will be around the same price in us dollar.

September 29th, 2003, 07:14 AM	#1
Marko Zorec Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 32	Gl2 Hello again, I have some more questions about Canon's GL2 model. First of all - how does its STILL CAMERA mode work? Are pictures good enough? Is there option to manual adjust iris and shutter like in a VIDEO mode? Second question is about MACRO. I want to record also little grasshoppers or spiders, how close will I go with my lens? Third question - is Canon's FRAME MODE as good or even better like in a PANASONIC PVDV953 model? Thanx! Marko Zorec

September 29th, 2003, 07:49 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	We just had a whole thread about macro. Basically it's built-in. Zoom out all the way wide, take off the lens hood and you can focus right on the glass. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 29th, 2003, 03:32 PM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Marco, The subjects of all of your questions have many, many postings so please use our Search to do more extensive research. The GL2's still photo facility is not nearly as good as digital still cams. It may be "good enough" for your purposes, whatever that may be. But get digital still camera for best results. The GL2's a video camera. The popular opinion is that Sony's are better for low/no light shooting. I can't compare frame mode between the two cameras. __________________ 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

September 29th, 2003, 09:30 PM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	I believe Roland's advice is better than mine when it comes to real, live critters. The farther away you are, the less likely they'll move out of the field of view. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 30th, 2003, 12:40 PM	#8
Joris Beverloo Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands Posts: 29	macro samples Hi Marko, This summer I did some macro shots with my XM2 (GL2). I bought a close up lens (number 3) and these kind of lenses give you the ability to use the full zoom range when being close to a subject. Te lower the number of your close up lens, the further away you must be from the subject in order to use full zoom. With the number 3 lens you can use full zoom when being about 30 to 40 cm (about 12 to 14 inch) away from the subject. Here are 2 samples I have shot: first one I happenend to be trying out my new bought close up lens on a flower when a fly landed. And the second sample is of a baby frog in the garden, little bigger than the nail on your thumb. http://members.lycos.nl/rezahormes/image/fly.jpg http://members.lycos.nl/rezahormes/image/frog.jpg by the way, these are captured frames, not photos.

September 29th, 2003, 07:17 AM	#2
Marko Zorec Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 32	JUST ONE MORE THING... What about low light capatibilities? Can I take footages really in candlelight conditions? Or in a room in the evening with lights on, but no additional PRO lights? Thanx again, Marko Zorec

September 29th, 2003, 03:09 PM	#4
Roland Barth Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bellevue NE Posts: 31	Marko, I better be careful here and not tee off the "Kennelmaster". But if you're really into spiders and grasshoppers, you're better off zooming all the way in and shooting at about 1 meter. That way your critters may hold still; they surely will move when you zoom all the way out and get up really close. Cheers, Roland

September 30th, 2003, 12:59 AM	#7
Marko Zorec Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 32	Thankx for the answers, in that time I have read all of the opinions in this forum which relate on my questions... About photo mode: I expected that it is not as good as it is in the digital still cameras. I own an analogue Nikon F 65 and really good lens, I will stay on that thing for photo shooting. I was just asking myself how good or bad is the gl2's photo mode... I will buy it for video shootings of course... :) About macro: I prefer to zoom in and be as far as it is possible from the object. Then also the field of depth is smaller. Thanx... Marko Zorec

September 30th, 2003, 02:31 PM	#9
Roland Barth Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bellevue NE Posts: 31	Great images, Joris. Please tell us more about the "number 3" close-up lense (brand and cost). Did you use the "frame" or "normal" movie mode for these images? Roland

October 1st, 2003, 02:37 AM	#10
Joris Beverloo Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands Posts: 29	close up or diopter lens Hi Roland, I purchased the close up lens in my local photo shop. On internet I saw they also called it diopters. The ones I bought were from B&W but Tiffen also has them. some more einformation on them is on this page http://www.schneideroptics.com/filte...sion/diopters/ Hope you find what you need

October 1st, 2003, 02:51 AM	#11
Marko Zorec Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 32	Hello, The fly is really amazing. And how much cost this diopter? Thanx, Marko Zorec

October 1st, 2003, 07:49 AM	#12
Joris Beverloo Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands Posts: 29	costs oh yes hehe I forgot to post what the costs were, sorry! I payed somewhere around 30 euro for it...wich will be around the same price in us dollar.