Canon put the GL1 on sale in September 1999 as a handheld three-chip DV camera, a smaller and simpler sibling to the XL1. Europe knew it as the XM1 and Japan as the XV1. It keeps the XL1's 270,000-pixel Pixel Shift idea but uses smaller 1/4-inch CCDs, and the lens is fixed: a 20x zoom from Canon's Video L series with a fluorite element to control color fringing. Unlike the XL1, it has a flip-out screen. A WD-58 wide converter screws on the front, and Canon sold a floppy-disk still recorder that hooked up through the DV port. The GL2 replaced it in July 2002 with 410,000-pixel chips and more manual control.
Tape check
Should come with it
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
Canon's manuals say to clean the heads only with a dry cleaning cassette, since wet ones can damage them. At this age the tape transport, battery and both screens need checking before the electronics.
New to old camcorders? How to check a used camcorder covers the tape transport, heads, screens and power, and getting footage off a camcorder explains FireWire and analog capture.
Buying guide
We'd buy the GL1 titled tested and working at $258 delivered, just under the $260 median, since the photo shows a battery, the charger, the remote, a Canon bag and a UV filter. There are at least 22 for sale, most titled tested at $220 to $290 delivered, and an auction titled fully working with battery, charger and manual sits at $215 with no bids yet. Ask for a short clip of a MiniDV tape playing on the flip-out LCD and photos of both screens lit, and check the badge says GL1, since a GL2 is a different camera and an XM1 is the PAL version. Its 4-pin DV jack copies tapes to a computer, so plan on a PC or an older Mac with FireWire. Skip the $994 listing from the UK, nearly four times the median.
$136.52est. delivered
The lowest-priced GL1 here that isn't sold untested, an NTSC body at $137 delivered from a 100% seller. The title says no battery or accessories and makes no test claim, so budget for a BP-900 pack and the CA-910 adapter with its DC-905 coupler.
Canon DM-GL1A 3CCD Mini DV GL1 NTSC Digital Camcorder NO BATTERY OR ACCESSORIES
$257.51est. delivered
Titled tested and working, and the photo shows a battery, the charger, the remote, a Canon bag and a UV filter. That's a complete kit just under the $260 median.
Canon GL1 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder Tested Working + Canon Bag & 58mm UV Filter
$257.51est. delivered
A 99.7% seller, a test claim and everything you need to power it and shoot. Ask for a clip of a tape playing on the LCD before you pay.
Canon GL1 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder Tested Working + Canon Bag & 58mm UV Filter
$79.69est. delivered
Untested at $80 delivered, about $180 under the median, with the remote in the photo. Pay parts money, since nothing says the tape side or screens work.
Canon DM-GL1A Mini DV 3CCD Digital Video Camcorder GL1 NTSC UNTESTED
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$136.52est. delivered
$129.00 + $7.52 shipping
Buy It Now$129.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
NTSC, titled no battery or accessories. No test claim.
Seller: dastei-30
100% positive
Used$257.51est. delivered
$240.00 + $17.51 shipping
Buy It Now$240.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested and working. Battery, charger, remote, bag and UV filter in the photo.
Seller: danxprodigy1092
99.7% positive
For parts$79.69est. delivered
$59.99 + $19.70 shipping
Buy It Now$59.99
Project piece
Untested. Camera, remote and strap in the photo.
Seller: mmcp_841
100% positive
Used$205.64est. delivered
$189.99 + $15.65 shipping
Buy It Now$189.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled tested and working, with cables. No battery named.
Seller: hiddenshelfoutlet
100% positive
Used$215.20est. delivered
$200.00 + $15.20 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 1d 10h
Our take
Titled fully working and tested, with battery, charger and manual. Shown with its box. Auction, no bids yet, so it will climb.
Seller: lehrer1boone
100% positive
Used$259.00est. delivered
$240.00 + $19.00 shipping
Buy It Now$240.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Shown in a hard case. No test claim.
Seller: redbeer77
100% positive
Used$259.78est. delivered
$250.00 + $9.78 shipping
Buy It Now$250.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled tested and fully functional, with a battery and an aluminum case.
Seller: tstiz-shop
100% positive
Used$993.63est. delivered
$926.52 + $67.11 shipping
Buy It Now$926.52
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled NTSC, ships from the UK. About 3.8 times the median.
Seller: silverbackradio
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 15, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay search
Canon
MiniDV$290–$675 typical ask
Canon
MiniDV$310–$525 typical ask
Sony
MiniDV$875–$1,025 typical ask
JVC
MiniDV$120–$170 typical ask