Firewire Cable for XL1s at DVinfo.net

David Chavarria · January 23rd, 2003, 04:40 PM

When purchased the XL1s didn't come with a firewire cable. The port on the camera looks smaller than a normal firewire port.
Do I need a 4 pin to a 6 pin cable? I looked on Canons site and they had both listed for the camcorder...

Scott Silverman · January 23rd, 2003, 05:00 PM

David,
For a camera to camera connection you will need a 4 pin to 4 pin cable. For a camera to computer connection you will need a 4 pin (camera) to 6 pin (computer) connection. For something like the iPod you would need a 6 pin to 6 pin cable. So all cables have their specific uses, but for connecting your XL1s to your computer you will need a 4 pin to 6 pin. Good luck, and have fun with your XL1s!

Rob Lohman · January 24th, 2003, 05:22 AM

Although this is mostly true, it is now always! My laptop (on which
I do the video transfers at least) has a 4 (!!) pin connector
(probably due to space considerations). I suggest you look at
your computer port first before buying the cable. I got myself
a 4-to-4 pin cable. I'm also thinking about getting a 4-to-6 pin
just to be on the safe side if I need to use the camera on any
other computer.

Ryan Krga · January 24th, 2003, 07:13 AM

Do you have a Sony Vaio laptop? They come equipt with a iLink port, which is a sort of firewire for the Sony cameras. I really dont get why they have it thought because it works with all cameras.

Rob Lohman · January 24th, 2003, 07:55 AM

No, I have a DELL Latitude laptop (comes with my job), it has a
plain IEE1394 compatible firewire port. It just uses a the smaller
connector, that is all.

Jeff Donald · January 24th, 2003, 08:18 AM

FireWire and iLink are the same connection and follow the same specifications as set forth by IEEE1394. iLink is the Sony trademark for that connection. FireWire is Apple's trademark but they allow the other members of IEEE 1394 to use it. Apple Computer is the principal inventor of FireWire and is paid a royalty for every use.

Jeff

stankern · January 24th, 2003, 06:02 PM

does anyone know what the 4 pin to 4 pin firewire cable is worth
canon dealer says is a $50.00 US cable.
The regular firewire for a device to computerb is way cheaper

Rob Lohman · January 24th, 2003, 06:34 PM

I do know that my 4-to-4 was pretty expensive. Around $50
might be correct indeed (althought I think I payed slightly less).

Jeff Donald · January 24th, 2003, 07:14 PM

This one instance where I would be certain to have a name brand cable. Dropped frames and other capture problems have been traced to cheap cables. It's not worth the headaches to save a few bucks.

Jeff

Don Palomaki · January 26th, 2003, 07:37 AM

Canon Firewire cable is expensive probably because they offer it as a convenience, not as a major product line, thus the level of sales do not support going to a lowr price. Any reasonable quality firewire cable should do fine, it need not be the "Monster" or other premium brand for most normal uses. You can find long cables, and for long runs better cable construciton is required. Note however that the firewire connectors are not very robust, and for long life careful use is indicatred.

Common needs are a 4-pit to 4-pin for copying between camcorders and/or VCRs. A 6-pint to 4-pin is common for firewire connection from camcorder to PCs. But as noted above, variations do occure.

John Threat · January 26th, 2003, 11:35 PM

Firewire cables seem to cost more than the camera itself. That;s an exaggeration, but they are expensive (it's friggin wire) because of the royalty payments described above.

THey cost what the market will bear, and since mostly it's still a speciality cable that you need desperately when you need it, it's easy to price high.

A good serial cable used to cost a lot too, now they come for free with microwave ovens.

Andrew Petrie · January 27th, 2003, 08:38 AM

You could buy a 4-4 cable, and a 4-6 adapter for if/when you need one.

Don Palomaki · January 27th, 2003, 06:46 PM

Expect to pay around $6-10 for a generic 6-foot firewire cable, and to pay $30 or more for a higher end brand name.

I've been using a $6 generic with no problems.

Scott Silverman · January 27th, 2003, 08:17 PM

Same here. I have been using a cheap cable for 3 years with no problems.

stankern · January 28th, 2003, 02:42 AM

does anyone know if the firewire is 4 or 6 wires and like the vhs-s cables one could cut them and slice on a 6 or whatever section is fire wire this simple.

January 23rd, 2003, 04:40 PM	#1
David Chavarria New Boot Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas Posts: 10	Firewire Cable for XL1s When purchased the XL1s didn't come with a firewire cable. The port on the camera looks smaller than a normal firewire port. Do I need a 4 pin to a 6 pin cable? I looked on Canons site and they had both listed for the camcorder...

January 23rd, 2003, 05:00 PM	#2
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	David, For a camera to camera connection you will need a 4 pin to 4 pin cable. For a camera to computer connection you will need a 4 pin (camera) to 6 pin (computer) connection. For something like the iPod you would need a 6 pin to 6 pin cable. So all cables have their specific uses, but for connecting your XL1s to your computer you will need a 4 pin to 6 pin. Good luck, and have fun with your XL1s! __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

January 24th, 2003, 05:22 AM	#3
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Although this is mostly true, it is now always! My laptop (on which I do the video transfers at least) has a 4 (!!) pin connector (probably due to space considerations). I suggest you look at your computer port first before buying the cable. I got myself a 4-to-4 pin cable. I'm also thinking about getting a 4-to-6 pin just to be on the safe side if I need to use the camera on any other computer. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 24th, 2003, 07:55 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	No, I have a DELL Latitude laptop (comes with my job), it has a plain IEE1394 compatible firewire port. It just uses a the smaller connector, that is all. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 24th, 2003, 06:02 PM	#7
stankern New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: kincardine ontario canada Posts: 19	firewire question does anyone know what the 4 pin to 4 pin firewire cable is worth canon dealer says is a $50.00 US cable. The regular firewire for a device to computerb is way cheaper

January 24th, 2003, 07:13 AM	#4
Ryan Krga Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 116	Do you have a Sony Vaio laptop? They come equipt with a iLink port, which is a sort of firewire for the Sony cameras. I really dont get why they have it thought because it works with all cameras.

January 24th, 2003, 08:18 AM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	FireWire and iLink are the same connection and follow the same specifications as set forth by IEEE1394. iLink is the Sony trademark for that connection. FireWire is Apple's trademark but they allow the other members of IEEE 1394 to use it. Apple Computer is the principal inventor of FireWire and is paid a royalty for every use. Jeff

January 24th, 2003, 06:34 PM	#8
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I do know that my 4-to-4 was pretty expensive. Around $50 might be correct indeed (althought I think I payed slightly less). __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 24th, 2003, 07:14 PM	#9
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	This one instance where I would be certain to have a name brand cable. Dropped frames and other capture problems have been traced to cheap cables. It's not worth the headaches to save a few bucks. Jeff

January 26th, 2003, 07:37 AM	#10
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Canon Firewire cable is expensive probably because they offer it as a convenience, not as a major product line, thus the level of sales do not support going to a lowr price. Any reasonable quality firewire cable should do fine, it need not be the "Monster" or other premium brand for most normal uses. You can find long cables, and for long runs better cable construciton is required. Note however that the firewire connectors are not very robust, and for long life careful use is indicatred. Common needs are a 4-pit to 4-pin for copying between camcorders and/or VCRs. A 6-pint to 4-pin is common for firewire connection from camcorder to PCs. But as noted above, variations do occure.

January 26th, 2003, 11:35 PM	#11
John Threat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York Posts: 322	Firewire cables seem to cost more than the camera itself. That;s an exaggeration, but they are expensive (it's friggin wire) because of the royalty payments described above. THey cost what the market will bear, and since mostly it's still a speciality cable that you need desperately when you need it, it's easy to price high. A good serial cable used to cost a lot too, now they come for free with microwave ovens.

January 27th, 2003, 08:38 AM	#12
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	You could buy a 4-4 cable, and a 4-6 adapter for if/when you need one. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

January 27th, 2003, 06:46 PM	#13
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Expect to pay around $6-10 for a generic 6-foot firewire cable, and to pay $30 or more for a higher end brand name. I've been using a $6 generic with no problems.

January 27th, 2003, 08:17 PM	#14
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	Same here. I have been using a cheap cable for 3 years with no problems. __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

January 28th, 2003, 02:42 AM	#15
stankern New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: kincardine ontario canada Posts: 19	cutting a fire wire cable does anyone know if the firewire is 4 or 6 wires and like the vhs-s cables one could cut them and slice on a 6 or whatever section is fire wire this simple.