Exposure Question XL2
 

I've had my Xl2 for about a year and a half and there is one problem I can't seem to figure out and that is the background darkening when my subject holds something up in front of them.

Example:
In an interview type shot, if my subject holds up some papers or something it makes the background go darker as the camera compensates for the foreground change. This happens in manual and auto modes.

I always set my gain to 0 so it doesn't auto gain and I also only use 0 for my AE shift.

Anybody know how I can fix this? Thanks so much!

I don't have an XL2. But does it have an "knee" feature. Knee will roll off the whites to keep them from over exposing. You can normally adjust the knee setting. Maybe you should try raising it? Just a guess.

Well the Knee setting doesn't really work for that, I keep the knee at the lowest setting at all times to avoid white color burns from light reflections off skin and such. This is something different. Thanks though;)

This shouldn't be happening. Something is clearly on auto, either the exposure or gain. I know you say that it isn't, but are you sure? When you say the camera is on manual, you mean full manual, not the shutter or aperature priority modes? What about the white balance? If it were on auto, that might account for this as well.

If you're using Tv mode then you can stop it by pressing Exposure Lock. Or use full Manual.

Richard

Ah, after some testing the "Exposure lock" seems to be the key, I guess I simply forgot about it. BTW the exposure lock does seem to work even in Auto mode as well.

Thanks Richard, I think that did it. Thank you too Marco.