I've been reading the manual for the HD100 that I downloaded...am reading it right?

It says that it will actually up-convert to 1080i. Is that right? If so...why won't it shoot in 1080i?

And if it does...how does that work for me in post...etc? Will I have to up-convert to 1080i at digitization into FCP? Then when I go to output...will need the new deck that is in ProHD line? Or just any HD deck? Or can I re-output to camera the 1080i to the DV tape stock?

I have the HD100 on order...hope to get it before the end of the month. I am just trying to figure out the work flow and all the functions.

Also, are there any plug-ins that will allow me to edit the true 24p that it will shoot in Final Cut Pro?

Thanks all.

1080i is not a camera mode for the HD100. Don't get distracted by a red herring here.

The camera shoots 720p, and it records 720p.

What it can do is output its 720p signal to a monitor as 720p, or it can output its 720p signal to a 1080i monitor by converting that 720p signal to 1080i. However, if you're playing back from tape, the 1080i signal that it outputs will be a conversion of its 720/30p (or 720/25p or 720/24p) recording -- so it won't look like 1080/60i. It'll look like 720p.

You can't output 1080i to the camera, it can't record 1080i, in fact there's nothing about it that is in any way compatible with 1080i -- it can't play back or record HDV 1080i format, etc.

The 1080i function is really there for two reasons: 1) if you're connecting the camera to a 1080i-only monitor (which couldn't otherwise display the camera's native 720p signal), or 2) for using the camera in a live-switched production that is otherwise all-1080i. There may be other reasons, but I can't think of any.