On Sat, 22 Jan 2000 10:57:15 -0000, "Geoff Ward" wrote:

>Many thanks to Peter, Dave and Neuman-Ruether for your help but I have to
>admit to the world that I am an idiot - it is not an XL1 that I am
>interested in but an XM1

We-e-e-ll, you're not alone..., many of us, too, are
idiots...! ;-), ;-), ;-)
But, even so, you can still read my earlier post,
and it will apply, with a few changes...;-)

You can find reviews of several 3-chip mini-DV camcorders
(and some one-chippers), with frame-grabs, and comments on
motion-video and on sound quality, on my web page, under
"I babble"... I liked the sound and sound capability of
GL-1 (XM1) the least of any of the three-chippers, and
also I preferred the picture of all other three-chippers
covered to that of the GL-1, but the handling of the GL-1
is nice (a relatively low-importance item, compared with
recorded picture and sound quality, I think...). The GL-1
is hardly a poor camcorder choice (and it is clearly better
than some others), but unless you need the long-end
reach of the GL-1 zoom, or its normal frame-rate
progressive-scan mode (VERY useful for film-transfer work),
I would consider at least looking elsewhere before buying...