After searching and reading threads for the last hour, I'm finally breaking down and posting a (yes, I know ... yet another) "How do I import CF HDV M2T files into FinalCut" thread.

I've rented a Z7U to try it out.
It came with the manual, but that hasn't been a help with this so far.

I've shot a HDV clip (camera was set to progressive, 24) to a CF card.
CF card is in my FireWire800 reader and I can see the files in Finder.
After lots of hunting and following many links that didn't work, I downloaded the Sony Recording Unit Plugin 1.1 for the Mac and installed.

Still, in FinalCut, I can't seem to use the Import command to import the M2T file. The file is not recognized and I haven't been able to find any concise instructions on how to get these clips in. (Final Cut Pro 6.0.5)

Can anyone help?

Use Log and Transfer not Import.

Thumbnails of the files should appear in the window. Drag the ones you want to the lower pane where it says 'Drag media here.'.

The files are then wrapped into a Quicktime HDV wrapper ready for editing in the open project in FCP.

Thanks Jonathan!

Doh ... ok ... I guess I just needed another 5 minutes or so of searching to do.
Found this page at Sony's pro site that finally explained it all.
Worked like a charm.

HVR-DR60 | Hard Disk Recording Unit (http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/hdv/hvrdr60/HVR-DR60/soft.html#A2)

(Murphy's Law dictates that I would have never found that page if I hadn't posted a thread first :p )

Always worth asking though!

Just FYI: don't try this with Final Cut Express. It won't work. The plug-in has only been made for FC Pro.

Just FYI: don't try this with Final Cut Express. It won't work. The plug-in has only been made for FC Pro.

I kind of like to mostly prove you wrong, just to let people know the Z7 can work with a FCE workflow. (Although I think FCP is a great deal, if you don't have the money for FCS FCE can be some people's only option.)

While you have to purchase a 3rd party application, it is very cheap and will make importing files off a CF card into the timeline very easy. I know some FCP people like using the app better than FCP.

More info here in the last few replies:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/sony-hvr-z7-hvr-s270/141636-final-cut-express-4-cf-logging-plug.html

Or go here:

ClipWrap (http://www.clipwrap.com/)

PS Nick, I'm willing to bet that after you get the log & transfer to work, you will probably never want to go back to capturing from tape again.

Two things that will make the log & transfer go better are:
1: Fast cards, 300x cards are my choice. (Others will say 133x, but I've had trouble w/ them.)
2: Fast card reader. I bought a Lexar 800FW reader from BestBuy for about $30 on sale a few months ago, WOW, blazing fast transfer.