Does anyone have any idea how I can edit footage in the h.264 format? I have a large clip at 720x480 but FCPHD won't import it. Does FCP 5 import h.264? I have QT7 pro installed, and would simply create in and out points and export to DV NTSC but there is no way to set in and out points. Any ideas?

I've never worked with h.264 personally Jonathan but I thing that you should be able to open it in Quicktime Pro and then export it to DV NTSC to edit with. There is probably a faster way but that is all I can think of.

Yes, you can import an h.264 clip into your timline in FCP 5, however, it'll need to be rendered for playback and then again every time you make an edit.

Nate's suggestion is the way to go. Then you can use it in any version of FCP as well.

H.264 is a DELIVERY format...not an editable one. It was never intended for use in an NLE.

Mind you, it is also a HIGHLY COMPRESSED format, so when you convert it (like was suggested) and work with it, it won't look good. Recompress it again for viewing and it will look downright bad.

Agreed. H.264 is a delivery format. I've just had a pretty rough week putting together a PSA with footage provided on H.264 (the originals had been deleted by the editor and the tapes have been overwritten). Argh. I did the same thing as above, exported through QT and reimported in FCPHD.

Captured files deleted. I can see that. But ORIGINAL TAPES OVERWRITTEN?!?

Why on God's green earth did you do that? Never...ever...EVER tape over your footage.

1 - You may need it again in the future. As you just found out.
2 - Taped over tapes are prone to dropouts or double images.
3 - DV tapes cost $5. None of these headaches are worth $5.

Nope, nyet, nada -- not me. I have tapes going back to 1979. A freelancer who worked for us did it. His contract stipulated that he should turn over the tapes but he 'thought' that I would not need them and he 'needed' them. Let's not go there, if you don't mind. I am 'fuming' enough as is.