The L X-ray intensity ratios (I-L alpha/I-Ll, I-L alpha/I-L beta, I-L alpha/I-L gamma) and the radiative L-3-M vacancy transfer probabilities (eta(L3-M)) of some 4f elements such as Gd, Tb, Ho and compounds; Pr2O3, Pr-2(CO3)(3)center dot 8H(2)O, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Sm-2(CO3)(3)center dot 2.85H(2)O, Sm-2(SO4)(3)center dot 8H(2)O, Gd-2(CO3)(3), Tb2O3, Dy-2(SO4)(3), Ho2O3 and HoF3 have been measured using Indus-2 synchrotron radiation. The elements and compounds are excited by synchrotron radiation and the emitted characteristic L X-ray photons are measured with high resolution silicon drift detector. The measured intensity ratios of compounds are not influenced by the chemical environment. However, the eta(L3-M) values of compound targets indicate the effect of crystal structure. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.