just inherited a Canon GL-1

[blacklevel]

Just "inherited" a Canon GL-1, seems to be in full working order. Anyone have experience shooting with one? Any tips, or worthwhile accessories I should pick up?

[edDV]

The GL-1 is a good DV format camcorder. You will need an IEEE-1394 cable and adapter to transfer video to a computer for editing. Also, basic editing software like Sony Movie Studio or Adobe Premiere Elements.

For shooting, a good tripod will improve the quality of your video and a good external microphone will help the audio. A Wide lens adapter will help with indoor or hand held shots.


PS: I just noticed you are on a Mac. You should already have iMovie and iDVD software and the Mac Pro has an IEEE-1394 "Firewire" port so you are set. Later you can consider an upgrade to Final Cut Experss or Studio.

[Soopafresh]

Fluid head tripod. Depending on your budget, you can get the Velbon VIDEOMATE 607 for $90 or go up, up, up for quality and features.

[turk690]

I would have killed for a Canon GL-1 ten years ago. Now it's just so ...SD.

[greymalkin]

congrats on the free camera. never mind the debbie downers :P

[Supreme2k]

You may not even need an external mic (unless you're doing interviews and such). If I recall correctly, it has a fairly decent mic.


Debbie downers? Plus, not much of a "downer" anyway (especially with him wanting to be lovers in the spring).

[aedipuss]

the gl1 cams work extremely well, including the mics. i used 2 of them a couple weeks ago on a 3 cam musical production shoot. the only complaint i have is the ones i used have a couple dead pixels on the sensors, but they are old and have been in production use for 8-10 years.... i won't use those particular cams again but i'd use gl1s in general without a second thought.

[blacklevel]

UPDATE: after shooting random test footage for a bit, the GL1 decided to eat a tape! Noooooooooo! Probably was the tape's fault, not the camera. It was in the bag with the camera when it was given to me, who knows how long... maybe up to 10 years? What is the shelf-life for miniDV tapes, anyway? Makes me re-appreciate the tapeless workflow all over again =)

[edDV]

UPDATE: after shooting random test footage for a bit, the GL1 decided to eat a tape! Noooooooooo! Probably was the tape's fault, not the camera. It was in the bag with the camera when it was given to me, who knows how long... maybe up to 10 years? What is the shelf-life for miniDV tapes, anyway? Makes me re-appreciate the tapeless workflow all over again =)

I've never had a DV cam "eat tapes". Time for a service evaluation.

This free cam was probably free for a reason.

[LJB]

With any luck it just needs a good old fashion head cleaning.