Not used the GL2, and for that matter, haven't used the GS500 either, but I have used the GS400 (previous years model) and the MX500 (model before that) to shoot this.
Both cameras benefited from being aimed at users in my position, i.e. no experience/training, but needing to be able to easily control the image, with control over the focus, exposure, white balance etc. My understanding was - and this is the reason I went with these cameras - that no-one else was offering that level of control at that price. The 2 cameras were similar in most respects, but the GS400 (later model) had a slightly richer image, and performed much better in low-light conditions.
This is an excellent site which has in depth reviews of dozens of cameras, and importantly, lots of comparisons. They recently compared the GS400 and GS500, and their opinion was that while the GS500 did produce a marginally better image, they had shed some of the price, by removing the functions/flexibility offered to the film-maker, which sounds odd, as i felt that these were the key points the MX500 and GS400 were being sold on. Based on their comparisons, i would recomend that if you do go down the cheaper panasonic route, get yourself a second-hand or end-of-the-line GS400, and avoid the GS500.
Bookmarks