Question 2)
My poxy computer cant run 5dii footage well in FCP - it can just handle the EX1 (1080-25p) - is there that much more data or am I missing a setting
I also note that FCP cannot play the 5Dii files at full resolution without hiccuping - seems to be OK at about 50% res. Strangely however, QuickTime Player can play them well...
My solution for editing in full-res is to convert the files to AppleProRes 422. (I convert the 44.1 kHz sound to the FCP standard 48 at the same time.) This _increases_ the data rate of the files about 5 to 6 times, but the video plays smoothly and FCP has no problem editing.