nacmacfeegle 0 #1 March 31, 2004 Perennial subject and one that is about to become more confusing, so I thought I'd post this as a reference. Also known as I link, or IEEE 1394a or 1394b. Here is what YOU need to know. Camera to camera transfers normally need a 4 pin to 4 pin cable. or an adaptor (see pics attached). These are currently IEEE 1394a connections on digital cameras in common use. Another flavour of 1394a is the 6 pin animal. The main difference is the size and shape, the 6 pins can also carry power. Next we come to 9 pin firewire or IEEE 1394b. This is the new high speed variety and the connections are different again. New firewire will talk to old firewire devices such as cameras or external hard drives, but you will need an adaptor cable if your firewire card or computer is fitted with the new variety. Longer cable runs are now possible, and like the old firewire you can daisy chain stuff together, eg plug a camera into a hard drive and plug the hard drive into the pooter, up to 63 devices on a single chain. I've attached some pictures to help clear some of this up, Fire 800 is a PCMCIA card with a 6 pin socket and a new 9 pin socket for comparison purposes. Happy connecting.-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 March 31, 2004 I haven't heard of any of the "normal" cameras used in skydiving having 1394b yet, though, have you? (get back to TX you crazy Scottsman!)--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #3 March 31, 2004 No, there's no need for them yet Dave, 'old' firewire has more than enough capacity to carry normal DV signals, so I don't expect Sony will be overly keen to tool up for the new system. They have started appearing on external drives, DVD burners, and interface cards though. So anyone buying a new card will more than likely need a 9 pin to 4 pin cable. Saskia said they were using a new type card and drive out in Thailand on the World Team stuff. Yep, I miss Texas, its too damn foggy and cold here. Oh, and we can't get Shiner.-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
