Canon GL2, XL1, XL1S, or...?

[nopEda]

I'd like to get a decent camera and learn to make some
documentary type videos. Being a poor boy I'm looking
at older used models. Since I'll be doing some shooting
of lakes and wildlife a strong zoom would be best, so to
begin with I decided on a GL2. But that has no XLR inputs,
so what would be needed to use external mics? Would it be
better to pay a few hundred dollars more for a used XL1?
How much performance difference is there between an XL1
and an XL1S?

Thank you for any advice or suggestions!
David

[zoobie]

I considered those too until HDV cams hit the market. Someone said a Canon HDV handycam is down to $600...but if you're making wildlife films, you'll need a huge lens arrangement to get in there which the little handycams don't offer.
Try www.camcorderinfo.com for more info...

[Soopafresh]

I'd get a used Canon HV20 and buy a Wide Angle plus Telephoto Adapter and 4Hr Battery for it. You'll want something portable.

Have a look

http://www.vimeo.com/816572

[thecoalman]

The GL2 has a mini-jack input for external recording mics. There's an attachment for the hot shoe with XLR inputs.

As far as Zoom its only 20X(optical) fixed lens, stepping up to the XL's give you the ability to switch lenses.

I've had one a few years now and I'm quite pleased with it. There's sample video here in DV-AVI if you interested. It's quite short but will give you an idea of low light conditions capability. There's no audio.

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic257651.html

[SCDVD]

I'd get a used Canon HV20 and buy a Wide Angle plus Telephoto Adapter and 4Hr Battery for it. You'll want something portable.

Have a look

http://www.vimeo.com/816572

I strongly agree. This and the newer HV30 are great cameras. They are probably the best camera for the buck on the market.

[nopEda]

I'd get a used Canon HV20 . . .

I strongly agree. This and the newer HV30 are great cameras. They are probably the best camera for the buck on the market.

That's what I had thought to begin with, but other people have told me that the
pro-sumer level mini dv cameras are better than the consumer level HD cameras.
I never did understand why, and still don't. Can the HVs take external mics? Other
than body size, what would make the pro-sumer level cameras better? I had just
taken it for granted that they are since they get a lot more money for them, but
now I don't know what to think...

[SCDVD]

The larger pro-sumer video cameras provide more flexibility with manual settings. They also support a wider range of attachments and lenses. But for the money, the HV-20 and HV-30 shoot very high quality video. Yes, they support external mics.

I have a professional videographer friend with some high-end "iron" for cameras but he also uses an HV-30 as a second camera because its compact size comes in handy in some shooting situations.

There is a web site http://www.hv20.com/index.php that is dedicated to the HV-20 and HV-30. There is a huge amount of information there that you might find helpful.

[Soopafresh]

I have an external mic for my HV30. The Sony ECM-MS908C Stereo Video Microphone

http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/camcorder-microphones-accessories/m/252122/

Here's a comparison of mics for the HV20

http://www.vimeo.com/960332