Are all firewire cables the same?

[joteo]

Hi,

I know this isn't exactly a video camera question.

But I'm looking for a 6-4pin firewire cable.

And I've noticed for the same length, the prices can differ from $5 - $25.
And even the $5 can have gold connectors.

The $25 ones also don't seem to have much thicker wiring.

So is there any real difference in the quality that would warrant paying the $25?

What does one need to look out for in purchasing a firewire cable.

(I'm just having a consumer digital camera and am not a pro.)

Thanks
joanne

 

[mrngbss]

My opinion is that they are the same. I bought one piece some time back. My considerations were:

- short (<1.8m) Most impt factor here
- reliable
- flexible and can keep to a small coil (thin wire is preferred)
- Can bend here and there when I connect devices with it.

In the end, there were two choices - a Apple brand and a Belkin brand. I bought a Belkin white coloured piece. two years back. It is quite expensive. maybe around $30-$40. I'm quite sure there are cheaper versions around.

When I bought a portable firewire harddisk (2.5" type), it came with a short, thin and white-coloured firewire cable too. I thought to myself, "shouldn't have bought the cable then!".

 

[darr]

I have many different firewire cables, the thick only have more braided shielding that's all...I know cos I cut up some to connect my firewire card to my pc casing firewire connectors.

And I dont see any noticeable difference between thick and thin ones. Few weeks back I bought a 1m 6-4 cable at Funan, Chamoxa for few dollars only...

 

[eel]

Just don't buy the retractable ones - those cannot be used when capturing video.

 

[kenele]

There are two types of FireWire connectors, 4-pin and 6-pin. Cables with 6-pin connectors carry power and data from one device to another. Four-pin cables carry data only and are typically used with self-powered camcorders or other devices. The other difference lenght which may affect the quality if too long...

 

[shojibake]

There are some differences in the cabling. I have a focusrite soundcard that requires a firewire cable. The Atake brand cables don't work for it even after trying 2 different versions. But a more expensive phillips brand cable as well as my older firewire cable works.

I suspect the atake cable's connectors are poorly constructed or it doesn't follow the firewire specifications thoroughly enough such that the firewire device can detect if it's connected. The manufacturers are cutting corners such that normal consumer cams won't notice much of a difference but only devices requiring very strict compliance will be affected.

 

[iggy]

There are two types of FireWire connectors, 4-pin and 6-pin. Cables with 6-pin connectors carry power and data from one device to another. Four-pin cables carry data only and are typically used with self-powered camcorders or other devices. The other difference lenght which may affect the quality if too long...

Actually, there are 9-pin cables as well; albeit for Firewire2 or Firewire 800 or IEE1394b, whichever you want to call it.

 

[joteo]

Thanks all for the information.

It really helps the shopping a lot.

joanne