I recently purchased a XLH1 and i can capture SD and HDV footage fine, and can even preview my FCP timeline footage in SD stuff back out thru the firewire to the camera and a SD broadcast monitor, but I can't seem to be able to do this with any HDV footage.

Does someone know why this is? Surely the camera should be able to pick up the HDV signal coming back to it from FCP and then i can preview a down converted signal on the composite out?

I can't record back to tape or anything, and have read the manual and still stuck.

Ok, so i've just read FCP can't output HDV back down the fire wire to my camera due to some recompression issues.

Does that mean the only solution is to purchase a Decklink/Kona/Matrox HD card to preview and monitor HDV on a CRT monitor?

That's pretty much it I'm afraid.

Otherwise, you can get a second monitor for your computer and use Final Cut's "Desktop Preview" feature. I know you've been wanting another 23" anyways, right?

mmm... maybe even a 30" if i'm lucky.

Thanks for the help.