DVX100a & FCP, DropFrame, 24P Advanced vs. 24p standard

[piware]

I've got questions. Lots of good, hearty questions.
Thanks to anyone who can tackle some or all of these.

I am about to begin cutting a short movie on FCP 4.5 that may have mixed Advanced 24p and Standard 24p. (They shot on the Panasonic DVX-100a).
1. Does it matter what kind of mini-DV deck I use to digitize the footage? I don't need an Advanced Pulldown deck, right?
2. Any advice about how to deal with mixed 24p (standard) and 24pa (advanced)? Like, how will I be able to tell which is which?
3. Can Final Cut Pro 4.5 or Cinema Tools 2 detect Advanced Pulldown vs. Standard Pulldown footage?
4. Can you mix 23.98 and 29.97 footage on the same sequence?

5. Does the Panasonic DVX100a shoot Non Drop Frame (NDF)? Do all cameras?
6. If you're making a short film, do you want to cut in Non Drop Frame (NDF) or Drop Frame (DF)?
7. If a distributor wants you to deliver in DF, can you take your NDF sequence parts and copy them into a DF sequence, and oila, it's DF? (Final Cut Pro 4.5)
8. Is there any reason you would want to mess around with DF unless specifically told to?
9. What are the dangers of mixing DF and NDF?

Thanks 1,000,000.
Pi Ware
Filmmaker. Los Angeles.

 

[Barry_Green]

The DVX 24P modes are always, always, always NDF. You can't shoot 24P in DF, the camera won't allow it.

So basically, don't even worry about it. When you put the master back out to tape it's going to get restriped with new timecode anyway. You can choose at that time whether to make it DF or NDF, etc.

 

[Sumfun]

I don't use FCP, but I can answer most of your questions.

1. No. You can even use any cheap camcorder for this.
2. Hard to tell the difference. Some people say 24pn looks a little smother.
3. Probably not.
4. Yes. Better to use the 29.97 timeline, because the video from the dvx (even the 24p video) is laid out on the 29.97 timeline. But if your final output is a 24p dvd, then use 23.98 timeline.
5. Most consumer cameras shoot NDF.
6. Cut in DF if you plan to air it on TV.
7,8,9. The only difference between DF and NDF is how you number the frames. You don't really lose any frames, but the ending timecode will be higher with DF.