Panasonic GH2 and Final Cut Express?

Does anyone have any experience in importing into Final Cut Express with a Panasonic GH2? I have about $1000 to spend on a new camera for work and the camera was recommended to me but not by someone who uses FCE. I have been using a Canon Vixia SR 20 smoothly with FCE, but now have a chance to purchase a new camera for video.
I am also wondering if it is a good choice should I eventually move to Final Cut Pro X. I have seen some of the forum talk about this camera and some issues it has with FCP X, but right now am looking to find someone who has used it successfully with FCE. Or a simillarly powerful camera recommendation in that range with a proven FCE track record also welcome. Thanks!
Douglas

I use the same camera and it works for me. Make sure you are using the log and transfer function, in FCE, and not the log and capture. I am not sure what other advice to give other than to confirm FCE4 and the SD5 do play nice together, at least for me. I will say I have only used the SD card media with it so if your using a disc maybe it may be a different story -- I don't know.
Edit: Sorry I misspoke my camera is the SX5 -- from everything I understand and have read, however, it is functionally identical to the SD5. The difference being the SD5 only works with SD cards where this one has the option to record to mini DVDs.
Message was edited by: l0gden

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Cathy, welcome to the Discussions group.
Here is the list of camcorders supported by iMovie and Final Cut Express. Your camera is not in the lists but may still work.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2948
When you are using the camera are you running it from its battery power or is it plugged into its own power source (same question would apply to your external drive which may have a problem if its not using its own power supply depending upon how much power it would draw from the computer and how much power it needs to be reliable). You should be running the camera from its own power supply.
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302667
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*The following User Contributed Tips are located in the Pro Applications: Video > Final Cut Express and Final Cut Express HD Forum:*
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Martin Wells wrote:
.. 720p format (50fps). The clips are AVCHD. When I film in "FHD" mode, which is 1080p it imports these fine, with no issue at all?..
FCE4 does not support 720/50p, only 25/30p ..
according to Panas press release your device offers 1080 as 50i/60i not p ...
FCE4 supports 1080/50/60/i

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2GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
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Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express: Unexpected quit with Panasonic HDC-SD9 AVCHD
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It sounds like you didn't change the settings after you made the DV video. Did you switch it back to 1280x720 and make a new sequence in that format? Check item properties for the sequence you edited. What does it say? Also check item properties for any media you captured since working in DV.

Panasonic GH2 and Final Cut Express?

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