What's the difference between a 4pin to 6pin vs. a 4pin to 4pin firewire cable for a JVC camcorder?

Question

I have a JVC GR-D770US camcorder. I tried using the USB cable it came with to upload my videos to my macbook computer, but it didnt connect to my computer. Do I need to get a DV cable instead? If so, which cable am I suppose to use, a 4pin to 6pin firewire DV cable or a 4pin to 4pin? whats the difference? My computer says it has a firewire 400 port (up to 400mbps) so which cable would be compatible to use with my camcorder?

Answer 1

The USB will NOT work, that's usually used for other data on cameras (still photos, etc.). All too often, misguided posters will tell you that USB will magically work for full-blown DV. SOME camcorders do this nowadays, but most do NOT.

That said, you will indeed need a Firewire (DV/iLink/IEEE1394) cable. You'll need whichever cable fits your camera AND the computer. If your camera has a 4-pin port and your computer also has a 4-pin port, go 4-to-4. Depending on which ports you have, get the appropriate cable. Firewire 400 comes in 4-pin and 6-pin varieties, so you actually have to look at your computer and your camcorder.

4-pin ports are shaped rectangularly, with a little indentation along one of the longer sides. 6-pin ports are more pentagonal in shape. If you're not sure which one you have, do an image search for each type of port, and see what I mean. In addition, look at what kind of port your camcorder has.

EDIT: Looking at the GR-D770U manual, your camcorder has a 4-pin port. It's under the flip-out LCD screen. Refer to page 40 of your manual. The manual mentions using a JVC cable, but that won't matter. Any DV cable will work. As for the Macbook, it looks like a 6-pin port when I'm looking at it, but Apple's image makes it a little hard to make sure that what I'm looking at is the DV port. I'd double check; I think it's on the left side (looking at the screen), next to the USB ports.

Notebooks don't ALWAYS have 4-pin, and desktops don't ALWAYS have 6-pin. You need to check it. Again, the Macbook looks like it might have a 6-pin port. Give it a look to make sure.

Answer 2

Usually dv port at camera is 4 pins type and at computer 6 pins type. So get the 4 - 6 pins firewire. Capturing by using USB needs driver to be installed first before using it

Answer 3

the 4 pin to 4 pin cable is for hooking 2 camcorders together, to do edits or copyies. you need 4 to 6 to connect to the computer.

Answer 4

4 to 6 is for a desktop & 4 to 4 is for a note book