I am trying to import video from a Nikon D5100.  I receive an unrecognizable video format error.  The file shows up as a "*.mov" file.  I went to the cake store to try to purchase the codec, but no luck.  Any suggestions?

you'll need to import the file into windows and then convert the file into something that Sonar will read.

QT Pro or Total Video Converter will convert the file for your use in Sonar.

Also, make sure you have something like Klite codecs pack (free) installed on your machine.

Your lucky lol.
Cakewalk is basically useless for video work and can only import avi files. I often wonder why video  it still included in Sonar.

Not true, it works with MOVs as well

bump 

Not many device  save  footage in .mov format. Once imported it can be exported out as .mov
Other format it imports is mpeg, wmv, asf
  Anyway once imported into Sonar you are very limited in what you can do with the footage. 
If you need good editorial  control over video footage then you need one of the following.
1. Adobe Premier CS6 (latest)
2. Sony Vegas
3 Final Cut Pro
These are the big names  and give professional results. Handling HD import and export.
Even the video editor included with Windows is better than Sonar. 
http://windows.microsoft....ovie-maker-get-started

Removed. 

I am going to comment here because you have posted three negative comments about SONAR's video capabilities and I think you are misguided. I do find it a nuisance that the import capabilities are very limited. But Cakewalk has never _tried_ to make a video editor. It's an audio programme and a very good one, that has grown enormously...unbelievably.... since I started using it, keeping up as well as anyone could possibly ask, IMO, with racing technology. I shudder at the mere idea of CW putting in effort to start editing video, thereby putting aside resources that should be going to the prime aim of audio. The idea of bringing in (an already edited and rendered) video to SONAR is to simply stream it and create music /sounds etc to suit, accurately placed as required on the timeline. An original score in an integrated environment. Not _ever_ to edit the video. If you look at the music _composition / recording_ capabilities of the other programmes that you mention.... I am not just angrily defending SONAR/CW. If you feel the way you do about SONAR then you may be depriving yourself of a lot of useful soundtrack making power. If however you just want to place already written background music and stuff into videos, as distinct from creating your own music and timed soundtrack, then yes SONAR is probably not suitable. rant over

  Having leapt on the poster who said that SONAR was no good for video editing, it occurs to me that they may have had a point. You _are_ asking about importing footage from a camera into SONAR, and not an edited, rendered video. Just in case, if you expect to be able to do any sort of video editing in SONAR, you can't. Its entire purpose is to create a soundtrack for an edited video, in an integrated sound environment, using the imported video only to see what is happening.

when you install sonar there are options at the end to install .mov quicktime format importers and it states that these only work with the 32bit version of sonar.  qt is 32bit format on windows still, iirc.  
i've installed the 32bit sonar and mov imports work flawlessly.  that's a bit of a long road though.  
an easier solution is to do this:

right-click the .mov file
select open with windows movie maker
click file/save movie, then select either for hd display or for computer
when the save dialog appears, select .wmv from the save as type drop down
import the .wmv file into sonar

works fine. super easy and no downloading random freeware or shareware to deal with.

hth