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Help Quick Please! Firewire 800 pins?

PurpleCliff

PurpleCliff

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 23, 2009
160
0
Australia
I just called JVC to get a cord to go from my JVC mini DV digital video camera to go to my new iMac - to the FireWire 800 port.
Basicly - they asked if my FireWire port has 4 or 6 pins - because that is what they have. I said I only know it is FireWire 800. They said they don't know the difference between FireWire 400 and 800 is. So I guessed 6 pins.
Is this right? Is the FireWire 800 port on my brand new iMac a 6 pin slot?
 
They're definitely going to give you a 400 wire. The pins aren't the issue as the pin count is more for the part that goes into the camera.

(I think 800 is 8 pins)
 
Thanks for the speedy replies! I've told them not to send me the 6 pin connector.
I'll see if they have a 9 pin connector. :)
 
PurpleCliff said:
Thanks for the speedy replies! I've told them not to send me the 6 pin connector.
I'll see if they have a 9 pin connector. :)
Click to expand...

If they don't have that you want the 6 pin which is the normal FW400 connections on older macs, more than likely your camcorder has the 4 pin version of FW400, if you want to see the difference google image search for "firewire 400 6 pin" and "FireWire 400 4 pin", most camcorders can't connect directly to FW800 so you'll need an adapter
 
PurpleCliff said:
Thanks for the speedy replies! I've told them not to send me the 6 pin connector.
I'll see if they have a 9 pin connector. :)
Click to expand...

Right. You need a 9pin to 6pin or 4pin depending on what the connector is to your camera. If it is a 4 pin it looks like this and if 6 pin it looks like this.

F800 is 9 pin and looks like this. To compare all three look at this.

So the cable you would need for 9 pin to 6 pin is this for $3.99 plus shipping. The cable for a 9 pin to 4 pin is this for $7.99 plus shipping. If you do have to buy the cables you'll have to find elsewhere to buy from since you are in Australia.
 
Almost certainly a 9 to 4 pin connector. I don't believe camcorders ever used 6 pins. In the picture below, the 4 pin connector is the one on the right. If this looks like it will fit your camera, get this type of lead

fw%209m-4m%206.jpg
 
Thanks soo much everyone! You've all been really really helpful! :D

One last question - does anyone know where I can buy the cord pictured in the post above - the 9 pin to 4 pin cord - in Australia? Or an online store that can ship to Australia?
 
brop52 said:
Right. You need a 9pin to 6pin or 4pin depending on what the connector is to your camera. If it is a 4 pin it looks like this and if 6 pin it looks like this.

F800 is 9 pin and looks like this. To compare all three look at this.

So the cable you would need for 9 pin to 6 pin is this for $3.99 plus shipping. The cable for a 9 pin to 4 pin is this for $7.99 plus shipping. If you do have to buy the cables you'll have to find elsewhere to buy from since you are in Australia.
Click to expand...

thanks so much!
 
Called Apple and spoke to a Pro regarding Pins for firewire with Mac Book Pro

For the 800 firewire both a 6 or 9 pin will work according to Apple Pro; NOT an 8 as posted in previous replies. In fact, I am not sure an 8 pin exists. It it does it is hard to find. The 9 pin works great!. Hope this helps some of you trying to figure out the pin configuration for the MAC Book Pro with firewire 800!
I found one on Ebay with a lifetime warranty for 4.99 which includes shipping and works great for my older video recorder that uses a tape and is not compatible with Vista on my PC but now have a MAC too :eek:
 
Since we're on the FW topic..

Does anyone know why 9 pin FW800 does not use a gold or metallic tip? The plastic seems cheap and could break easier and I miss the gold tip on my FW400 6 pin..

If anyone knows of a gold tip or why they don't have one, i would love to know.
 
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