Hi, I'm buying one of those firewire cables for my sony camcorder, buy I don't know whether to buy a 4-Pin to 4-Pin or 6-Pin to 4-Pin cable for my iMac G3? Can someone give me like a picture of them both or something? Please? thanks. I'm trying to find a picture on google right now. I'll update if i find it. But please help! thanks!
4-Pin to 4-Pin or 6-Pin to 4-Pin Firewire?
- Thread starter The Mac
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VirtualTracy
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I don't really get it. I think this how it works. The 4 pin is for the camcorder and the 6 pin means its for the firewire? lol. Do I plug the 4 pin wire into the A/V port on my camcorder?
I got two firewire ports that looks like this:
And a DV and a A/V OUT port like this on my camcorder.
VirtualTracy
Thunderbirds are GO!
II got two firewire ports that looks like this:
If this port is on the Camcorder, then it's a 6 pin Firewire Port .... if on your Mac, then they are still 6 pin ... the image of the A/V OUT is blurry but the DV port ( on the right ) looks like a 4 pin port, or it could be USB, depending on the model?
Does the above connector look like it would be compatible with the port on the right in the pic of your CamCorder?
If this port is on the Camcorder, then it's a 6 pin Firewire Port .... if on your Mac, then they are still 6 pin ... the image of the A/V OUT is blurry but the DV port ( on the right ) looks like a 4 pin port, or it could be USB, depending on the model?
Does the above connector look like it would be compatible with the port on the right in the pic of your CamCorder?
Yeah it came with a DV to usb wire but it only came with windows drivers. It would be nice just to use USB, so i can save 10 bucks, but i wouldnt know how to get it to work. But yeah it looks like the A/V OUT port looks compatible. I took another pic.
VirtualTracy
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Have you tried connecting it up to your Mac using USB 2, then launching iMovie and seeing if the CamCorder has been recognised?
yeah. It just said no camera recognize. You think there is a driver out there? But anyways 6-4 pin will work for me right?
VirtualTracy
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Just to be clear, the connector in my Post # 5 looks like it's compatible with your CamCorder? That connector is the 4-pin firewire connector and you would be looking for a 4-Pin to 6-Pin Firewire cable ....
Like this one.
Does your Camcorder come with a manual? What model is it?
Like this one.
Does your Camcorder come with a manual? What model is it?
ok. thanks! Its a Sony DCR-TRV260 NTSC.
VirtualTracy
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I found this:
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/specs/DCRTRV260_mksp.pdf
at this link:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=DCRTRV260
On Page 28 of the "Camera Operations Guide" in the Manuals section, you can check the method of connecting your cam to your Mac using the USB cable that came with it .... this link takes ages to load so be mindful of that.
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/specs/DCRTRV260_mksp.pdf
at this link:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=DCRTRV260
On Page 28 of the "Camera Operations Guide" in the Manuals section, you can check the method of connecting your cam to your Mac using the USB cable that came with it .... this link takes ages to load so be mindful of that.
So i should just buy the firewire cables right? Like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150269316100&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150269316100&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
VirtualTracy
Thunderbirds are GO!
You can buy them at Walmart for US$7 - 8.
Camcorders are a bit tricky .. what OS version is on your G3?
In my above link, at the bottom I saw this:
I don't really get what the implications of this are but have seen plenty of threads about the woes of not being able to connec a camcorder to their Mac for one reason or another. FWIW, for the smallish cost of the firewire cable I would think there is nothing to lose.
Have a look at my last post, regarding the 'Connecting To A Mac' section in the Operations Guide ... you might be able to get the G3 to recognise the cam, using the USB cable you have with you?
Camcorders are a bit tricky .. what OS version is on your G3?
In my above link, at the bottom I saw this:
I don't really get what the implications of this are but have seen plenty of threads about the woes of not being able to connec a camcorder to their Mac for one reason or another. FWIW, for the smallish cost of the firewire cable I would think there is nothing to lose.
Have a look at my last post, regarding the 'Connecting To A Mac' section in the Operations Guide ... you might be able to get the G3 to recognise the cam, using the USB cable you have with you?
ok. Cool. I have 10.4.11 on my g3.
Should i just be on the safe side and pay the extra 2 bucks for this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330255041132
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330255041132
VirtualTracy
Thunderbirds are GO!
Your first eBay link is to a cable which has this as a feature:
So, IMHO, they are both the exact same cable ....
So, IMHO, they are both the exact same cable ....
VirtualTracy
Thunderbirds are GO!
No probs 
Most Sony camcorders have the 4-pin FireWire (smaller port). Macs come with 6-pin (larger) FireWire ports. These larger ports can supply power to other 6-pin peripherals, but not to 4-pin ones, so you need either a battery or power supply for those products when connecting to a Mac.