GL2: Besides the obvious physical differences—extended stereo microphone, larger lens diameter, powerful zooming capability—GL2 offers something that future DVD writer drive and HDTV owners will love; 3 CCD image sensor. We’ve all heard of Component Video to hook up the DVD players to newer televisions. 3 CCD captures RGB separately to the tape insuring the best capture as possible, i.e. broadcasting quality. In fact GL2 was designed to mirror the broadcasting quality. But this innovation does not come cheap or user friendly. Night shooting with GL2 will result in poor recording less than 7 lux. GL2 was not designed to be very portable (just shy of 3lbs), and still image shots will be less resolution compare to Optura 200MC. Optura 200MC: Most portable camcorder compare to GL2, weighing at 1lbs plus some change. The still shot using this camcorder will be close to 1.23 megapixels resolution—great for 3X5 print outs. Optura has less zooming power than GL2 however; the minimum illumination required to film is 1 lux. Just for fun: GL2’s been featured in many films and sports world. X-Game film crew uses GL2 while they are on top of the half-pipe to capture “up close and personal” shots. MTV used on several occasions in location shots where few daredevils competed for cash prize while hauling around this camcorder. On recent DVD title released featuring a well known police actor where he pulls over couple of extreme skate-boarders, most of the action shots were originally taped using GL2.
