Best format for downconverted Quicktime file?

These are video files from a still camera that are running so slowly on my system as to make them unusable. I would like to downconvert them so I can work with them and edit in FCP. I'm in MPEG Streamclip. Initially it comes up as 1920x1080 unscaled. What is the best format to downscale to for editing? I converted some to Motion JPEG A 100% quality. Most of the files I have worked with are NTSC DV. This is the first file of this type. Thanks
Message was edited by: editgrrl

Googleing "Canon 5D and Final Cut Pro" is a good start. And then searching these forums for the same thing..."Canon 5D"... will bring up all the times people have asked "how do I work with Canon 5D footage in FCP?"
The biggest issue you have is that all the answers will be related to working with the 5D in FCP 6 or 7. Which you don't have. So ProRes will be the codec that is mentioned all the time. You don't have that. You have DVCPRO HD and Uncompressed HD. Best to go with DVCPRO HD. Or you can try Apple Intermediate Codec too. I think that is part of FCP 4.5. But DVCPRO HD might be the easier bet.
Time to upgrade, if you are going to try to keep up with the current formats. And yes, we too have to remain on the ball. How? I read these forums (and others) daily (obviously). THis way I see what people are shooting and trying to work with.
Shane

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