Panasonic SDR-H40P/PC

Just found out that i have the same problem.  The box says that it's compatible, but I can't get Imovie to recognize it.  Help!!!

This will only work with imovie 08 or 09, imovie 06 (or HD) and earlier will only work with Firewire camcorders! 
Hope this helps!

This camera will only work with the latest version(s) of iMovie (08 and 09). I'm not sure, but you may need an Intel-based Mac also/too. Any previous version (for example, iMovie HD, aka version 6) will NOT work with this camera out of the box.

There is a workaround. You will need the MPEG2 Playback Component for Quicktime from Apple ($20) and a free program called MPEG Streamclip. I also use OS 10.5 (Leopard), and this has worked for me. Once the component is installed, drag the .MOD files from the camera (it will appear as a disk on the desktop when you plug it in and turn it to "PC Connect" mode) one at a time into MPEG Streamclip. Then export them to the DV file format, which is what iMovie uses. Depending on the length of the clips, this can take a fairly long time. Good luck.

This camera, when connected to a PC or a Mac, needs to be connected to a power source before you can do anything with it.

Please connect your charger port to the power source, connect DC power connector on the camera DC socket, and insert the battery adapter in the camera instead of the battery...

Now connect the USB cable to the Mac, and start iMovie, selec the Movie play option on the camera, and select USB connectivity mode with HDD as a selection...

iMovie recognize the camera and ask you to import the video clips into the iMovie.... if this does not work, send an email to surfing.secure at yahoo.com and I will prepare a Youtube video explaining the whole procedure...

Thanks
YB

Got this camera from a client who had the same problem. Tore my hair out all day trying to get my computer to recognize the camera. Finally I got it! It was the Pana supplied USB cable!! I had swapped out the cable once and it still didn't work. The THIRD cable I tried connected immediately. The one that worked is gray and says "Geek Squad" on both ends (I kid you not!!). Read a bunch of forums with people having this same problem. Hope it works for ya!