beginners set-up / firewire question

toby · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2004, 12:42 PM

I am considering getting a camcorder and underwater housing for shooting footage of my overseas and uk dive expeditions.

I already have a shiny new imac with usb, firewire and the imovie editing software (OK I know imovie ain't the best bit it'll do for now until i pay for something better and develop my editing skills) - so that side of things should suffice for now.

however.......
The imac has a firewire 40 connection, I have only heard of firewire IEEE1394 before - are these 2 compatible? (i.e can I connect a ieee1394 cable to a firewire40 socket and make it work) - if not can anyone recommend a camcorder in the £500-£700 price range that is compatible with firewire 40 and my imac ?

Marc Peters · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2004, 07:26 PM

Have to plead my ignorance, but never heard of firewire 40! Perhaps this refers to the rate of transfer (sustained transfer rate of 40MB/s? I can't imagine its anything else other than a FireWire/1394/i.LINK connection.

Marc Peters · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2004, 07:22 PM

Ok, just read that Firewire 800 is a new standard in firewire (the 800 being the 800MB/sec bandwidth) - to not confure matters, the original standard is now called Firewire 400). Could this be what your answer?