Sony HDR-HC3 Camcorder - trying to determine which Firewire cable I need?

Question

I know Sony is notorious for requiring the use of their own accessories for their equipement. I am wondering if I really need an i.Link branded firewire cable to transfer video from my Sony HDR-HC3 camcorder to my Mac Mini. Could I just use a off the shelf cable like this one?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7304776&st=firewire+cable&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1118842475694

I also read a post suggesting that you need a 4-pin, not sure what is required. Most I have found (off the shelf or i.Linnk branded) are either 4-pin to 4-pin or 4-pin to 6-pin. It is hard to determine from the manual or any posts online which type of cable is needed.

i.Link options:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11040679

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039459

Any help on this would be appreciated - thanks!

Answer 1

What you need to determine is what kind of firewire port is on your PC?? Is it a 4 pin or a 6 pin?? Is there a firewire port at all??

Answer 2

You need a 4-pin male on one side, and either a 4, 9, or-6 pin male on the other.

The following picture will help determine which:

http://pinouts.ru/connectors/firewire_ca...

Top-left is 4-pin

Bottom left is 9-pin

Right is 6-pin

Whichever is on your computer is the other side.

EDIT: And no, you don't need a i.link cable. I suggest monoprice.com, at the following links (CNET has reviewed these cables highly positive):

4pin to 4pin: http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc...

4pin to 6pin:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc...

4pin to 9pin: http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc...

Answer 3

I use a HDR-HC1.

A Sony-branded i.Link cable is not required - I use Belkin or Monster... or the one that was in something I got from Apple.

The DV port on the camcorder is a 4-pin. The Firewire port on your Mac Mini is a 6-pin firewire cable. Therefore, you need a 4-pin to 6-pin Firewire (IEEE1394a, i.Link - all the same thing... you already know this).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewire

Check the illustration on the right.

This one will work fine:

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4338375...

That firewire cable at BestBuy to which you provided the link will work fine - but you really don't need to spend that much...

Answer 4

you  will need 4 pin to 6