Deal with shifting light during tracking shots on outdoor shoots with the Canon XL2

Make sure the camera already has a good white balance.

Check the proper exposure for the starting angle and the finishing angle and compare the number of steps to adjust the iris between the two.

Practice a few pans back and forth between the two angles until you get the desired timing and look for the scene.

Practice the same pan, but now make the iris adjustments step by step, spread out in the middle of the pan, so that the exposure changes are hidden in the camera move, not on a static framing. You don’t want the adjustments to be made as the camera is starting into the sweep or slowing down out of the move. Get the adjustments evenly spaced in mid-pan.

Start recording, yell "action," and do the move. Do a few takes for safety.

For a backup, record the same scene with the camera mode set to Shutter Priority, "TV," as this will let you specify a shutter speed; the camera will automatically adjust exposure to the changing lighting.

I find Auto is not usually effective, since a lot of what I record includes elements that have the potential to reflect too much light, thus over-stopping down a camera set on Auto. That is why I have been experimenting with methods to get around Canon’s step-by-step iris adjustment. I have had some decent results with this. I have also had great luck using the Exposure Lock button, above the iris switch, to stop the iris from automatically adjusting when not desired. This is useful when recording bright subjects that move in and out of frame. You want to keep the overall picture exposed properly. Give these tricks a try.

Will Holloway, President, Iron Horse America

Will Holloway has been writing for professional video- and production-industry magazines for 10 years, specializing in testing and reviewing field gear. He is president of Iron Horse America, a production company in Seattle, Washington.

"When shooting video or film outdoors lighting can change drastically from one angle to another in a panning or tracking move," says Holloway. "With the Canon XL2 you can choose to simply set the lens to Auto or you can set the iris manually. In some instances, manual settings of shutter speed and exposure are the only ways to achieve the desired picture. On a standard ENG lens or film lens, adjustment is easy with an iris ring, but on the XL2 there is a rocker-type switch on the camera housing that adjusts the iris in progressive stop increments. These changes are noticeable under most shooting situations. Here is one way you can hide the stopping down or up of the iris."

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