View Full Version : Rating the ISO of the Canon XL2 for Light Meter


Bob Stovall
July 18th, 2005, 08:18 PM
Hi, I'm currently at the Workshops in Maine, and am trying to rate the ISO of an XL2. As with most cameras, you could take an auto iris reading on a 18% grey card to find out what the camera sees in comparison with your light meter. The problem I'm finding with the XL2 is that because of the electronic iris, I cannot get an accurate F-stop that is repeatable. I'm in Manual mode, no ND, 0db gain, no Custom Settings. It seems to me that there is a little gain control by the camera, even in manual mode, to compensate and give a better exposure. For example, on one reading I could get the lens open to 2.2, but on the second try, it would only open up to 2.4 - 2.2 was not available...

Anyone have any ideas? I'm getting stuck here, and the XL2 is starting to get a bad name here as far as not being able to have an accurate, consistant f-stop.

Thanks as always in advance!
Bob Stovall

Chris Hurd
July 18th, 2005, 09:23 PM
Assuming you're using the stock 20x lens, it's important to note that different focal lengths affect the maximum available aperture on the XL2. Are you shooting this test by zooming out to full wide? Or are you at some other focal length? Different focal lengths will yield different max. ap. values.

Bob Stovall
July 19th, 2005, 05:32 AM
Chris,

You do have a point there... I may have very well changed focal lengths, so that would explain the change in aperture, but how would you explain how to get an automatic reading in manual mode? I'm just lining up the aperture with the triangle in the middle so I'm centered on the exposure meter in the camera... Is that how you would do it?

Thanks for your input!
Bob

Stephen Duke
July 23rd, 2005, 08:45 AM
If you are shooting 24p then the ISO is 400 at 1/48 shutter

steve

Richard Rock
March 21st, 2008, 12:33 PM
Can anyone further explain the process for gauging ISO for an XL2?

Perhaps 30p at 1/60th?

Ian Stark
January 27th, 2011, 03:27 PM
Sorry to drag up such an ancient thread.

I was wondering if anyone is aware of the equivalent ISO rating for a PAL XL2 shooting 50i assuming zero gain at 1/50 shutter.

Thanks for any suggestions.