I've got an editor who has Media Composer 4.02 and I need to get AVCHD files to him from a Panasonic Lumix GH1

I'm pretty sure the later versions can ingest MTS files but this one can't.

if there a workaround? can I convert to another file format or can he? what would be the best format?

can Avid read cineform files with the free codec that's available?

sorry for all the questions, I know jack about AVID

You might try a program called MPEG Streamclip. It works well for me converting files for Avid MC5. The program is free, but Apple's Quicktime MPEG2 decoder is $20. I'm using that instead of the alternate decoder mentioned. Just google MPEG Streamclip. It runs on PCs or Macs.

Check to see if your editor already has it.

all sorted - EDIUS comes with procoder which can convert to Quicktime which AVID can read but the best options seems to be cineform

As long as the AVID machine has the free decoder from Cineform it works a treat. - Thanks Roger, the mention of quicktime gave me the clue