Exploring the XL2 Menu System
by Chris Hurd

The Canon XL2 camera menu system goes several pages deep. Here's an outline of the entire menu system, and in the very near future this page will be updated with a little more detail about each menu option. For now you can look over the entire list and get a feel for how extensive it is. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are not available in the 24p modes.

XL2 Menu Settings -- Camera Mode

Time Code

Frame Setting:	Drop Frame*, Non-Drop Frame
Count-Up:	Rec-Run, Rec Run Preset, Free Run*
Start Value:	Set, Reset

Camera Setup

24p Mode Select:	2:3,  2:3:3:2
Zebra:	On, Off
Zebra Level:	80, 85, 90, 95, 100
Skin Detail Set:	Hue	-6 to 0 to +6
	Chroma	-6 to 0 to +6
	Area	-6 to 0 to +6
	Y-Level	-6 to 0 to +6
	Skin Detail	Off, High, Middle, Low
Zoom Handle:	Low, Middle, High
Focus Speed Preset:	Low, Middle, High
Clear Scan:
Self Timer:	On, Off
Interval Timer:	On, Off
Interval:	30 sec., 1 min., 5 min., 10 min.
Int. Rec. Time:	15 frames, 30 frames, 45 frames, 60 frames

Custom Preset

Preset Setup:	Select Preset	1 Preset_A,  2 Preset_B,  3 Preset_C
	Lock / Clear	Cancel, Protect, Clear
Page 1/5:	Gamma	Normal, Cine
	Knee	High, Middle, Low
	Black	Stretch, Middle, Press
Page 2/5:	Color Matrix	Normal, Cine
	Color Gain	-6 to 0 to +6
	Color Phase	-6 to 0 to +6
Page 3/5:	Red Gain	-6 to 0 to +6
	Blue Gain	-6 to 0 to +6
	Green Gain	-6 to 0 to +6
Page 4/5:	Vertical Detail	Interlace, Progressive
	Sharpness	-6 to 0 to +6
	Coring	-6 to 0 to +6
Page 5/5:	Setup Level	-6 to 0 to +6
	Master Pedestal	-6 to 0 to +6
	Noise Reduction	Auto, Off, High, Middle, Low
Read Preset:	Select Preset	1 Preset_A,  2 Preset_B,  3 Preset_C
	Select Position

VCR Setup

Rec Mode:	SP, LP
Power Save:	Shut Off, VCR Stop
User Bit Data:	Set, Clear

Audio Setup

Audio Mode:	16 bit,  12 bit ch. 1/2,  12bit ch. 1/2 3/4
1kHz Tone:	Off, -12dB, -20dB
Audio Monitor Set:	Normal, Line Out
Rear XLR Gainup:	Off, 12dB

Display Setup

EVF Setup:	Brightness	-6 to 0 to +6
	Contrast	-6 to 0 to +6
	Color	-6 to 0 to +6
	Sharpness	-6 to 0 to +6
Center Mark:	On, Off
TV Screen:	On, Off
Audio Levels:	On, Off
Guide Info:	Off, Custom Keys, D/T Display
Language:	English, Japanese
Date Format:
User Bit Display:	On, Off

System

Custom Key 1:	Time Code, Index Write, Zebra, VCR Stop, TV Screen, Zoom Handle, Audio Level, (None)
Custom Key 2:	Time Code, Index Write, Zebra, VCR Stop, TV Screen, Zoom Handle, Audio Level, (None)
Wireless Remote:	Control 1, Control 2, Off
Tally Lamp:	On, Off
Time Zone/DST:
Date / Time Set:
Character Record:	On, Off
DV Control:	On, Off

XL2 Menu Settings -- VCR Mode

Time Code

Frame Setting:	Drop Frame*, Non-Drop Frame
Count-Up:	Rec-Run, Rec Run Preset, Free Run*
Start Value:	Set, Reset

VCR Setup

Rec Mode:	SP, LP
AV - DV:	On, Off
User Bit Data:	Set, Clear

Audio Setup

Select Audio Ch.:	Ch. 1/3 2/4,  Ch. 1/3 1/3,  Ch. 2/4 2/4
Mix Select:	Variable, Fixed
Audio Mode:	16 bit,  12 bit ch. 1/2,  12 bit ch. 1/2 3/4
Rear XLR Gainup:	Off, 12dB

Display Setup

EVF Setup:	Brightness	-6 to 0 to +6
	Contrast	-6 to 0 to +6
	Color	-6 to 0 to +6
	Sharpness	-6 to 0 to +6
Center Mark:	On, Off
TV Screen:	On, Off
Audio Levels:	On, Off
Displays:	On, Off (Playback)
Six Second Date:	On, Off
Data Code:	Date / Time,  Camera Data,  Cam. Data & Date / Time
Date / Time Select:	Date,  Time,  Date & Time
Custom Keys:	On, Off
Language:	English, Japanese
Date Format:
User Bit Display:	On, Off

System

Custom Key 1:	Time Code, TV Screen, Data Code, Audio Level, (None)
Custom Key 2:	Time Code, TV Screen, Data Code, Audio Level, (None)
Wireless Remote:	Control 1, Control 2, Off
Tally Lamp:	On, Off
Time Zone/DST:
Date / Time Set:
Character Record:	On, Off

Back to the XL2 Articles Menu.
Thrown together by Chris Hurd.