Sony HDR - XR520Ve

Question

Hi,
I'm looking into getting a new camera at work. We currently have a JVC Everio, which produces files of .TOD which are virtually unusable.
We have £1000 budget, so can't get anything pro (although we only do web videos so doesn't matter too much).
I am looking at *Sony HDR - XR520VE* (£1,031) but my MAIN concern is that it is AVCHD. Although Final Cut Express 4 says it edits AVCHD, but everywhere online says there may be problems importing, and also that I have to do it straight from the camera (at the moment we copy the footage to the computer and then import as and when I have completed a project).
another issue is i'm not sure that it has a focus ring. It says it has a bi functional focus or aperture 'wheel'
*If I can establish if Final Cut Express 4 will import AVCHD files with no converting and no other issues then that'll be a great first step* (seeing as the fact we can't importing our .tod files without converting is why we're replacing the camera)
Thanks

Answer 1

Realized you don't have permission to view the tip until it is approved and moved from the Contributions forum (level 2s and up only) to this one. Hopefully that will happen sometime in the next couple days so I can start linking to it. Until then, here are the relevant sections:
Why don't my clips appear when I open the Log and Transfer window?
Make sure your camcorder records AVCHD in a format supported by FCE4. It should be connected to one of your computer's USB ports, powered on, and set to video playback mode.
If the camcorder +does not+ mount on your Desktop your USB port or cable may be malfunctioning. Try plugging it in to another port or using a different USB cable to see if it makes a difference.
If the camcorder does mount on your Desktop but the clips do not appear in the Log and Transfer window you will need to point the program to the directory that contains your media.
First, click the Add Folder button in the upper left of the Log and Transfer window. The button looks like this:
Then, you will need to navigate to the root directory in which your media is stored. Most camcorders call this folder "PRIVATE" or "AVCHD" and it should be located at the very top level of the camcorder when mounted. If your camcorder records to a valid AVCHD directory structure then your clips should load after the Add Folder process is completed.
I would like to keep a working backup of my original clips so that I can delete them off the camcorder's internal memory. How should I do this?
There are two main ways to keep a backup of your clips. The first is to ingest every clip on your camcorder through the Log and Transfer process, and store the Apple Intermediate Codec files the application creates in an easily accessible place such as an external FireWire drive. The advantage of this method is that you have the ability to open back up old editing projects, reconnect the media as necessary, and keep going as if you'd never left. However, due to the large amount of space AIC takes up (usually somewhere in the vicinity of 41-50GB an hour when transcoded from AVCHD), this is not always feasible.
Another often preferable approach is to copy over the root directory in which your clips are stored (usually named "PRIVATE" or "AVCHD") from the camcorder to your computer or an external drive. As long as you maintain the original file structure, you will be able to ingest your clips again at a later date using the "Add Folder" process detailed above to navigate to their new location.