correct me if i'm wrong, but shooting HD is superior quality than shooting SD. right? with this being said, my major question is: why, if i plan to end on a film print, would i want to shoot SD 24F on a 2:3:3:2 mode (like it is reccomended in the manual.) what does that mean anyway? what does it mean to shoot in 2:3 pulldown converted?
i'm shooting a documentary and want to end up with the most beatiful cinematic images for my piece, but i don't want to give editorial a headache in the process. anybody have any advice on how to keep the highest image quality possible without creating a mess of algorithms :)

http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/index.html

The article linked is about the DVX-100, the first low-cost camcorder to implement 24p. Much of the info there is the basis for how 24p works in the camcorder world.

Read that, get to the point where you really understand it, and then do a search here on DVInfo in the HDV forums about 24p, and how it's handled.

24 f is in a m2t transport stream via (HDV) tape and firewire