GL2 - Capturing Stills from dv Tape

Mark Austin · January 2nd, 2003, 12:30 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka :
I think Canon ought to just give you a free digital Elph with every GL2 and XL1s. It's a good camera and probably wouldn't cost Canon a fortune if done for a limited time. <g> -->>>

This is the best idea yet, and Kata & Portabrace could make a nice small expanding pocket on the OUTSIDE of the bag to hold one...

Canon are you listening?
M.

Don Slinger · October 3rd, 2003, 09:34 AM

The 20x optical zoom is great for digital stills....used in powerpoint. This is becoming the main use of my GL2. I am so disappointed in its video ability in low light.

Cary Weston · October 4th, 2003, 06:43 AM

Hey Guys,

As an owner of both the XL1 and the GL1, I also posses "my first Mini DV" - the Sony trv17.

What I've noticed is the still shot mode in the trv17 and the Gl1 is exactly what a previous poster referred to as "keeping up with the Jones's".

This feature is there for simply one reason: to appease those with less than perfect expectations.

As an owner of an ad agency, I can't tell you how many times folks are amazed at their own "photographic" talent and send me shots that look like they were taken with a Fisher Price plastic cam. This community bulletin board represents about 5% (maybe) of the market that Canon is aiming at with the GL1. (Not true with the XL1, but that's a higher model and for higher uses.)

The other 95% of the market Canon is aiming at for the GL1 simply consists of those that want a camera that looks "cool" and will get the softball, t-ball and birthday events on film.

Quality is a mixture of taste, experience and expectations. With a global market of consumers willing to accept the feature rather than the function, why would Canon need to provide anything more that what the GL1 offers already?

That's my $.02.

Cheers!
-Cary Weston

Lloyd Roseblade · October 6th, 2003, 10:39 AM

Obviously the GL2's still pictures do not come close to a dedicated digital camera. However, I think there are some benefits:

- 20X zoom, not many digital cameras have that strength of optical zoom
- filter attachments. Certainly the Fujifilm Finepix 6800Zoom I own (and love) doesn't have the ability to attach any filters
- if you are shooting a wildlife scene (which is primarily what I am interested in) the still you may want might be the one you are framing with your GL2. It's nice to be able to capture that without having to dig out the stills camera, get it set up, and take the picture, by which time the subject may have moved/gone.

I will rarely, maybe even never, take a picture with the GL2 but it is quite nice to know I can if I need to. Incidentally, I think there are some stills in the gallery section of this site taken with a GL2 which look quite reasonable.

http://www.dvinfo.net/canongl2/images/images.php

Bob Benkosky · October 13th, 2003, 11:32 PM

I happen to like the GL2's ability in low light. It's really not as bad as you think.

I mean sure it could be better in auto mode, but if you're actually making a movie and you control the lighting and keep gain at 0, the blacks look great. I'm not a fan of static/noise.

I shot outside in full moonlight, no Gain, with 1 halogen light streaming down onto my friend's backyard and that's all it needed for me to see what I needed. The light is not expensive at all.

January 2nd, 2003, 12:30 AM	#16
Mark Austin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 188	<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : I think Canon ought to just give you a free digital Elph with every GL2 and XL1s. It's a good camera and probably wouldn't cost Canon a fortune if done for a limited time. <g> -->>> This is the best idea yet, and Kata & Portabrace could make a nice small expanding pocket on the OUTSIDE of the bag to hold one... Canon are you listening? M. __________________ I'm humbled by the greatness that surrounds me.

October 4th, 2003, 06:43 AM	#18
Cary Weston Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bangor, ME Posts: 26	Hey Guys, As an owner of both the XL1 and the GL1, I also posses "my first Mini DV" - the Sony trv17. What I've noticed is the still shot mode in the trv17 and the Gl1 is exactly what a previous poster referred to as "keeping up with the Jones's". This feature is there for simply one reason: to appease those with less than perfect expectations. As an owner of an ad agency, I can't tell you how many times folks are amazed at their own "photographic" talent and send me shots that look like they were taken with a Fisher Price plastic cam. This community bulletin board represents about 5% (maybe) of the market that Canon is aiming at with the GL1. (Not true with the XL1, but that's a higher model and for higher uses.) The other 95% of the market Canon is aiming at for the GL1 simply consists of those that want a camera that looks "cool" and will get the softball, t-ball and birthday events on film. Quality is a mixture of taste, experience and expectations. With a global market of consumers willing to accept the feature rather than the function, why would Canon need to provide anything more that what the GL1 offers already? That's my $.02. Cheers! -Cary Weston __________________ Cary Weston CM Weston, Inc. Bangor, ME www.cmweston.com

October 6th, 2003, 10:39 AM	#19
Lloyd Roseblade Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Thatcham, UK Posts: 34	Obviously the GL2's still pictures do not come close to a dedicated digital camera. However, I think there are some benefits: - 20X zoom, not many digital cameras have that strength of optical zoom - filter attachments. Certainly the Fujifilm Finepix 6800Zoom I own (and love) doesn't have the ability to attach any filters - if you are shooting a wildlife scene (which is primarily what I am interested in) the still you may want might be the one you are framing with your GL2. It's nice to be able to capture that without having to dig out the stills camera, get it set up, and take the picture, by which time the subject may have moved/gone. I will rarely, maybe even never, take a picture with the GL2 but it is quite nice to know I can if I need to. Incidentally, I think there are some stills in the gallery section of this site taken with a GL2 which look quite reasonable. http://www.dvinfo.net/canongl2/images/images.php __________________ Lloyd " Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

October 13th, 2003, 11:32 PM	#20
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	I happen to like the GL2's ability in low light. It's really not as bad as you think. I mean sure it could be better in auto mode, but if you're actually making a movie and you control the lighting and keep gain at 0, the blacks look great. I'm not a fan of static/noise. I shot outside in full moonlight, no Gain, with 1 halogen light streaming down onto my friend's backyard and that's all it needed for me to see what I needed. The light is not expensive at all. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

October 3rd, 2003, 09:34 AM	#17
Don Slinger Tourist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lake Elmo, MN Posts: 1	The 20x optical zoom is great for digital stills....used in powerpoint. This is becoming the main use of my GL2. I am so disappointed in its video ability in low light.