2
The World’s Finest Optics Deliver
Achieve Super High
Resolution and
Outstanding Color
Reproduction
3CCD Image Sensors
The GL1 maximizes the
capability of the DV format by
using 3 CCD image sensors.
Each CCD is assigned to
handle one of three primary
colors - Red, Green and Blue.
A beam splitting prism
precisely separates the light
passing through the lens into
individual color components,
and each is sent to its own
CCD. This process achieves
outstanding picture detail,
highly accurate color
reproduction, wide dynamic
range and virtually no color
noise, making the GL1 suitable
for many
professional
applications.
Pixel Shift
Canon employs Pixel Shift, a
signal processing method
used in broadcast TV
cameras, to exceed the overall
picture quality achieved by
camcorders using nearly twice
as many pixels. In addition to
Image
stabilizer ON
Image
stabilizer OFF
outstanding clarity and natural
color, Pixel Shift provides
wider dynamic range, reduced
vertical smear and sharper still
images. The advantage of
Pixel Shift is clearly visible.
The Process of Pixel
Shift
Each CCD image sensor in the
GL1 includes 270,000 pixels.
The process of Pixel Shift
however, rivals the resolution
of camcorders using CCDs
with 410,000 pixels. The green
component of a video signal
contains 60% of the picture
detail, and the red and blue
components comprise only
40%. The green CCD in the
GL1 is shifted the equivalent
distance of 1/2 pixel from the
red and blue CCD. The green
signal is then sampled more
frequently to extract the
maximum picture detail from
the video signal. This allows
the GL1 to achieve resolution
equal to camcorders with
nearly twice as many pixels.
Also, because there are fewer
pixels on the CCD, they are
larger in size and thereby
gather more light. The result is
improved dynamic range
where detail is clearly visible in
highlights and shadows
without annoying color noise.
Furthermore Pixel Shift greatly
reduces the vertical smear
from bright light sources and
enhances the quality of digital
still images.
Canon’s GL1 allows you to shoot outstanding video even under the toughest conditions. By combining the most ad-
vanced technologies in lenses and signal processing with manual controls and features, the GL1 achieves a perfect
balance of amazing picture quality and performance versatility. Do all the things the pros do with the Canon GL1.
CCD R
CCD G
CCD B
Fluorite Lens
Image Stabilizer OFF
Image Stabilizer ON
Vari-angle Prism
Fluorite
lens
Conventional
optic lens
Professional
L-Series Fluorite
Lens
Canon has satisfied the
demands of experienced
image makers for years
through the power, design and
quality of 35mm and
broadcast TV lenses. Our
Professional L-Series lenses
utilize Fluorite, a material
which provides outstanding
resolution, contrast and color
reproduction, especially in
lightweight, high-magnification
lenses. Now incorporated into
the lens on the GL1, Fluorite
delivers the ultimate clarity
and image quality. The
Fluorite element inside of the
lens defeats color aberration -
the effect when components of
light stray from one another
within a lens, causing a
reduction in sharpness,
contrast and color. Our
Fluorite lens precisely controls
components of light providing
an excellent balance of these
three critical ingredients of
picture quality. This is
unobtainable with conventional
optical glass.
Optical Image
Stabilizer
Canon’s superb optical
stabilization system corrects
camera shake instantly so
even hand-held shots, at full
telephoto, and shots taken
from a moving car, are smooth
and steady. And since it is
optical, there is no loss of
image quality inevitable with
electronic image stabilizers. It
perfectly complements the
high picture quality of the DV
format.
