I just don't get it

I use a Sony hdr-fx1000 and record at 1080p/30. What I don't get is the manual says that it Captures 30 frames per second but the captured images are converted to 60i format and recorded on tape.

So is recording 1080p 30 any different than recording in 1080i/60? And what do I set my FCP Sequence Preset for? HDV 1080i 60 or HDV 1080p 30?

You are blonde?

The camera records to HDV which on Sony cameras records to 1080 60i. If you drop the footage on a new FCP sequence and let it self-adjust, it will set itself to 1080 60i. You are recording 30p but a single frame is distributed over two interlaced fields in 60i. The result is indistinguishable from 30p.

Thank you William, I was beginning to think no one was going to explain it to me. Now I understand.