n00b: Best format for iMovie '08 and '09

[dagware]

What's the best format to convert to, so iMovie has to do the least amount of work to import it?

Not only am I a n00b to ffmpegx, I am a Mac n00b also (about a week). I do, however, have extensive computer knowledge.

I have some .MOD file that came from my camcorder. For all future camcorder files, I will probably use iMovie to directly import the files from my camcorder. But for the existing files, I'm trying to figure out what's the best format to convert them to, so iMovie 08 (and soon to arrive 09) will import them with the least amount of effort.

FYI, I searched for an answer for quite a while, bit I didn't find it.

TIA for any help.

Dan

[Case]

For SD files, best convert to DV.
For HD files, iMovie works with the AIC codec, which ffmpegX doesn't convert to. Perhaps someone else can advice on HD, if needed.