The enthusiast-targeted Nikon D7100 becomes the company's latest APS-C DSLR. With full-time autofocus and manual exposure control during video recording, D7100 achieves exceptional cinematic reproduction and quality and records in several high-definition formats: 1080p at 60i/50i/30/25/24 fps or 720p at up to 60p for ultra-smooth slow-motion sequences. The dual SD card slots give you additional recording time, and an all new 60i function enables smooth playback on HDTVs or external monitors. While, how about the editing workflow of Nikon D7100 in Final Cut Pro?

Well, most users found that there are many problems like import slowly, program crashed, long-time rendering while importing and editing Nikon D7100 MOV footages with Final Cut Pro X or FCP 6/7. The main reason lies in the H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding, which is not the native supported video format for FCP. Importing movie files from Nikon DSLR cameras (MOV, AVI, MJPEG Compression) into Apple's Final Cut Pro software requires that the files be converted into an editing codec first; allow the file to be edited in a format native to Final Cut Pro. (Rendering files should be avoided where possible as this increases the time to edit a sequence and uses additional space on the hard-drive.)

Brorsoft Video Converter for Mac is the software we would recommend to transcode Nikon D7100 MOV to edit in Final Cut Pro as well as Avid MC, iMovie, Final Cut Express, Premiere, Vegas, Pinnacle smoothly on Mac OS X(Mountain Lion included). With this Nikon MOV converter, you can transcode D7100 files into Apple ProRes, ProRes 422 (LT), ProRes 422 (HQ), ProRes 4444 that Final Cut Pro recognizes natively. It ensures maximum editing quality and efficiency when working with Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7/6. Just download and follow the brief guide below.

Download Nikon MOV to FCP converter:

(Note: Click here for OS X 10.5)

How to transcode Nikon D7100 MOV to Apple ProRes for FCP X/6/7

Step 1: Load Nikon Videos to the software

After downloading, install and launch the best Mac MOV to ProRes Converter to import your Nikon D7100 camera recorded h.264 MOV footages to it.

Tip: If you want to join the video clips together, please tick the box “Merge into one" on the main interface.

Step 2: Choose ProRes for Final Cut Pro

Click format bar to choose "Apple ProRes" codec for editing in FCP. You are provided with five Apple ProRes options listed as below. You can choose a proper one that fit your needs best according to the main difference of the five ProRes codecs. You're recommended to choose "Final Cut Pro -> Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)", it's best for FCP editing.

Tip: You can also click settings button in the main interface to adjust the output parameters, such as resolution, frame rate, etc, customize the parameters as you want.

Step 3: Converting Nikon MOV for FCP

Hit "Convert" button to start transcoding Nikon H.264 MOV to Apple ProRes codec on Mac OS X.

Step 4: Import Nikon D7100 footage into FCP

Once the conversion completes, you can click “Open” button on the main interface to find the ProRes MOV videos which can be directly imported to Final Cut Pro by clicking File -> Import -> Files. Now, importing and editing Nikon MOV in FCP should be simple and smooth.

Note: Apple ProRes encoded videos should be added instantly to FCP project. No rendering is required. Just drag the clips to timeline for editing.

Related Guides:
How to convert Nikon MOV files for iMovie
How to import Nikon MOV files into Sony Vegas Pro
How to edit Nikon MOV in Premiere Pro