How to import videos from Nikon D7200 to Final Cut Pro X/7/6

Summary: Facing issues when importing Nikon D7200 H.264 MOV recordings in Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7? Here you will find the best solution to edit Nikon MOV files with FCP.

One of our favorite DSLRs in the past few years is the Nikon D7100, which was introduced way back in February 2013. The D7200 isn't a radical upgrade by any means, yet it still adds some important features, most notably a larger buffer, improved autofocus performance in low light, 60p video, Wi-Fi with NFC, and 15% better battery life. As one the hottest DSLRs in the market, the Nikon D7200 is great for us to take high quality images and record vivid full HD videos. However, when you attempt to import Nikon D7200 videos to Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7 for some editing, you may encountered many problems, like import it slowly, and couldn't edit videos smoothly.

The reason that you can't edit Nikon D7200 .mov files in FCP is simple: the Nikon DSLR uses the sophisticated H.264 compression method for recording video files to the camera's memory card. This is an ideal file type for video capture in an SLR camera, delivering relatively compact file sizes with image quality noticeably superior to alternate video compressions (such as Motion JPEG). However, the H.264 compression format requires that files be transcoded into a format better suited to editing, effects, and color grading; this would usually be Apple ProRes codec, which ensures maximum editing quality and efficiency when working with Final Cut Pro 7 or FCP X.

So, to solve these problems, what you need is a Mac Video Converter tool to convert the H.264 files to ProRes for FCP. There are many kinds of Mac video converter software on market. One highly recommended program is EaseFab Video Converter for Mac, a professional yet easy-to-use H.264 to ProRes converter for Mac. With it, you can effortlesly batch convert from all Nikon 1080p MOV files to Apple ProRes 422 so that you can easily import the Nikon H.264 recordings to Final Cut Pro X, FCP 6, FCP 7 for further editing on Mac OS X(Yosemite and Mavericks included). This This will help you import the file correctly and saving the rendering time.

If you're editing with Final Cut Pro, chances are you already installed this great utility. If not, download it from here.

This Mac Video Converter is fast and stable for converting Nikon D7200 H.264 MOV to ProRes on Mac, it only need several steps to finish the conversion. See below how to do it.

Guide: How to convert Nikon D7200 footage for editing FCP

Step 1: Load D810 footage to the software

Install and launch Nikon Video Converter for Mac, and then click "Add Video" button to browse to MOV files to the program. You can also directly drag the AVI videos to the program. Batch conversion is supported so that you can add multiple files to convert at a time.



Step 2: Choose ProRes as output format

Click on the "Editing Software" and you will see options to convert your mov video for certain video editing software. Since you will be importing the video to Final Cut Pro after the conversion, have "ProRes" be your selected output format.



Tip: If you are a FCP 6 or former version user, you only can choose ProRes 422 HQ as the output format.

Step 3: Start converting Nikon MOV to ProRes codec

Click "Convert" to start encoding Nikon D810 MOV to Apple ProRes 422 codec for Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7. The conversion process may take long time but it will not bother to render in FCP. After conversion just click the "Open Folder to locate converted D7200 footage for FCP post-production.

Additional Tips:

1. If you are also a FCP X user, before you try to do the conversion, don't forget to make sure that you have installed the Apple ProRes Codec manually since the FCP X asks users to install it by themselves.

2. If you want to edit Nikon D7200 mov in iMovie or Final Cut Express, you just need to choose the "iMovie" in the second step.