I got a camcorder that connects to 800(just had it) and i was wondering if there was an adapter to convert my FW400 to 800, or USB to FW800 or any other Port.
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Any way to convert FW400-800?
- Thread starter Mr. MacBook
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From searching the web there's a slew of adapters for plugging in firewire 400 devices into a Firewire 800 port but not the other way around. Perhaps a problem with downconverting? The Macbook doesn't have an Express card slot so a Firewire 800 card is out of question. I wonder if it would be possible for a firewire 800 hub to be plugged into the Firewire 400 port?
I mean plug-in to firewire 400, and then have an empty firewire 4-pin 400 port, not the cable to stick into one.
Would it work if i needed to get the files off a PC, so i could add the camcorder thru firewire, then connect the cable there to get the files off?
Wait, it's not 800 firewire. It's 4-pin firewire 400.
Would it work if i needed to get the files off a PC, so i could add the camcorder thru firewire, then connect the cable there to get the files off?
Wait, it's not 800 firewire. It's 4-pin firewire 400.
I haven't seen a Firewire 800 port on a camcorder but would it generally be of the 9 pin variety? Reason being is my Sony miniDV camcorder has a four pin firewire port on it and in my opinion that seems to be the general sized port on consumer cameras and camcorders. I haven't seen a 6 pin port on a camcorder so I wonder would there even be a 9 pin port on a Firewire 800 enabled camcorder. Those cables you provided possibly would be for external hard drives?
That was just an example - obviously you use a cable that fits...
Firewire's backwards compatible.
Okay I'm confused now, your camcorder now has a 4-pin Firewire 400 port now and you want to plug it into the firewire 400 (6-pin) port on your Macbook but have an empty firewire 4-pin port, "and then have an empty firewire 4-pin 400 port, not the cable to stick into one"? I really don't understand that last part but if you want an extra firewire 400 port just purchase a firewire hub.
That was just an example - obviously you use a cable that fits...
Firewire's backwards compatible.
So there is a 4-pin firewire 800 to 6-pin firewire 400 cable?
After some brief searching there doesn't seem to be any consumer camcorders on the market that support the 1394b standard so I imagine if and when they exist they would follow along the lines of 4-pin ports.
No what I think we're saying is there is a 4-pin Firewire 400 and a 6 pin Firewire 400, and the OP is mistaken in the assumption that the smaller jack is FW800.
Small plug found on cameras is 400Mbps with no power, the larger 6 pin is 400Mbps with power, 9pin is 800Mbps with power.
Ok, you probably should refer to some diagrams.
Firewire 400 4-pin:
http://www.zpluscable.com/images/products/firewire-4pin-end.jpg
Firewire 400 6-pin (left most connector) and Firewire 800 9-pin (two black square-ish connectors to the right of the 6-pin Firewire 400):
http://www.transintl.com/store/images/firewire800.jpg
Firewire 400 4-pin:
http://www.zpluscable.com/images/products/firewire-4pin-end.jpg
Firewire 400 6-pin (left most connector) and Firewire 800 9-pin (two black square-ish connectors to the right of the 6-pin Firewire 400):
http://www.transintl.com/store/images/firewire800.jpg