Hi there. I have been working with my xl2 for about two months, I still consider myself a noob with it. I am having a problem with my shutter light in the viewer. Its always on!! no matter what aspect ratio x frame rate the damn thing always seems to be on. it was like that from the time I bought it. Im starting to think it is a manufacturer defect.

Anybody else have this problem?

Welcome to DV Info Net! Refer to page 34 of your XL2 owner's manual. See section 7, shutter lamp. Any time you're shooting with a shutter speed that isn't one of the default speeds recommended for a particular frame rate, this lamp lights up just to remind you that you're shooting outside of the default parameters. And they are:

1/60 when shooting in the 60i frame rate
1/30 when shooting in the 30p frame rate
1/48 when shooting in the 24p frame rate

Thanks Chris.
When I shoot in manual mode (which is most of the time) the light turns off. All the other modes the light is on though..So I would assume that the xl2 presets change the shutter speed. correct?

The auto modes can change the shutter speed if they so choose indeed. In
manual mode test this yourself by using Chris' list above. See if the light operates
correctly according to that list.