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ericmathes

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 2, 2014
1
0
I've looked all over for a Firewire 400 to Thunderbolt cable or cable connector combo to use between my Panasonic PV-GS300 (almost 10 yrs. old) cam & new 21" iMac. No luck. Does anyone know if it can even be done due to old Firewire 400 capabilities.
 

ColdCase

macrumors 68040
Feb 10, 2008
3,359
276
NH

I don't think thats the FW400 cable connector the OP was needing, cameras usually use a "mini" 4 pin style. I use this set up routinely with a "mini" 4pin FW400 to FW800 9pin adapter cable that I picked up at monoprice. Never been an issue... The cable sometimes gets misplaced, in which case I insert a FW400 drive enclosure between two more commonly found FW800 9pin to 400 6pin and FW400 6pin to mini 400 4pin adapter cables and never had an issue.

http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10301

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=103&cp_id=10301&cs_id=1030104&p_id=3541&seq=1&format=2
 
Last edited:

Kadal

macrumors newbie
Jul 16, 2015
2
0
I've looked all over for a Firewire 400 to Thunderbolt cable or cable connector combo to use between my Panasonic PV-GS300 (almost 10 yrs. old) cam & new 21" iMac. No luck. Does anyone know if it can even be done due to old Firewire 400 capabilities.
Hi Eric, I have the same camera and the same problem as you now that I've bought a MacBook Pro...! Can you tell me if you found a solution for connecting the 2. I use the camera to record directly into the Mac, several times a day, for professional purposes. Thanks.
 

Kadal

macrumors newbie
Jul 16, 2015
2
0
Hi Eric,
I have the same camera as you do, and now that I have a new MacBook Pro I have the same problem as you do...! I use the camera several times a day to record movies straight into the Mac. Have you found a solution to the connection problem? Thanks.
 

monokakata

macrumors 68020
May 8, 2008
2,035
582
Ithaca, NY
Do what ColdCase suggests. Last fall I was visiting a friend with the same problem (a Canon HD tape camcorder with 4 pin FW400 --> rMBP with Thunderbolt) and we sorted it out just the way ColdCase did -- even to experimenting with a drive enclosure, as he suggests. It worked just fine.
 

blouis79

macrumors member
Jun 7, 2005
93
1
Do what ColdCase suggests. Last fall I was visiting a friend with the same problem (a Canon HD tape camcorder with 4 pin FW400 --> rMBP with Thunderbolt) and we sorted it out just the way ColdCase did -- even to experimenting with a drive enclosure, as he suggests. It worked just fine.

Anyone tried [thunderbolt->FW800 adapter] -> [FW800->FW400 adapter] -> [FW400 cable or FW400 camcorder cable]
 

monokakata

macrumors 68020
May 8, 2008
2,035
582
Ithaca, NY
Anyone tried [thunderbolt->FW800 adapter] -> [FW800->FW400 adapter] -> [FW400 cable or FW400 camcorder cable]
I haven't had occasion to do it again, but I don't see why what you propose won't work. It would probably be easier if you have a FW800 --> FW400 mini (4 pin) cable, though. They are available and not expensive.
 
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