Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter

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  • Overview

    Easily connect your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac to a FireWire device with the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter. Small and compact, it connects to the Thunderbolt port on your Mac computer, giving you a FireWire 800 port that supplies up to 7W for bus-powered peripherals like hard drives and audio devices.

    What’s in the Box

    Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter with built-in Thunderbolt cable

    System Requirements

    OS X v10.7.4 or later

    Thunderbolt-equipped Mac computer

  • 3.0 Average
    3 out of 5 stars
    Number of stars Percentage Number of reviews
    5 Stars(Read all reviews)
    38%
    		8reviews
    4 Stars(Read all reviews)
    10%
    		2reviews
    3 Stars(Read all reviews)
    14%
    		3reviews
    2 Stars(Read all reviews)
    0%
    		0reviews
    1 Star(Read all reviews)
    38%
    		8reviews
    Write a review
    • 4.0 out of 5 stars

      Does what I need

      I can't speak to the issue some have had with devices that require bus power. But, for my particular need, it does the trick. I use an old MiniDV camcorder w I can't speak to the issue some have had with devices that require bus power. But, for my particular need, it does the trick. I use an old MiniDV camcorder whose tape drive has become unreliable. The camera has a 4-conductor FireWire 400 output, so I decided to try using it as a direct camera input for iMovie. I purchased a FireWire 400 cable (4-conductor at one end and 8-conductor at the other) and patched that through a FireWire 400-to-800 adaptor plug to connect to a MacBook. This worked, but my newer MacBook Air has no FireWire. This Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter—effectively the third adapter in my Franken-cable—successfully connects my camcorder to my MacBook Air. Interestingly, the camera will not work properly with the current iMovie, but functions just fine with iMovie 9.09 (thankfully available as a free download, and still compatible with El Capitan).

      • Written by Scott R from Edmonton

      25 of 25 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Does what I need

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      I so wanted it to work . . .

      I have an expensive Firewire (FW) 800 external drive that I have been using for the last few years. Rock solid and fast. Got new iMac 21.5" for office. Thought I have an expensive Firewire (FW) 800 external drive that I have been using for the last few years. Rock solid and fast. Got new iMac 21.5" for office. Thought I could use this FW drive with new Thunderbolt port using this $29 adapter but no luck. Checked drive on two other FW 800 systems and the drive is perfect. Just to make absolute sure, I reformatted drive then tried again. No luck. Specifically, drive displays on desktop just fine (as any external drive does) but you are unable to transfer files to or from drive. Just a spinning beach ball. Also can't eject drive. Even "Force Eject" doesn't work. You have to unplug power to drive to get it off desktop. Too bad. Bought a seagate USB 3.0 drive and it is a little faster than FW 800.

      • Written by Nicholas C from Alexandria

      19 of 19 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?I so wanted it to work . . .

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Doesn't even see my FW drives

      Been through 2 adapters so far on my brand new 2015 mac mini with exactly the same results. Both my external drives work great via my older mac book pro firewir Been through 2 adapters so far on my brand new 2015 mac mini with exactly the same results. Both my external drives work great via my older mac book pro firewire800 port, but through this adapter on the new mini they aren't even recognized. Its not the thunderbolt side, when monitors are attached to the mini via mini display port i get a good image. Its a useless adapter. Buyer beware... this technology does not work.

      • Written by Thomas C from Houston

      20 of 22 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Doesn't even see my FW drives

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Had to buy another

      Using some legacy FW 400 sound gear - have to buy an adapter for the adapter.

      • Written by Andrew G from New Orleans

      Is this review useful?Had to buy another

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Works fine for my use (Migration Assistant)

      I bought this adapter (and the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter) to connect my 2009 MacBook Pro (using the firewire port) and my new 2016 MacBook Pro (w/o I bought this adapter (and the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter) to connect my 2009 MacBook Pro (using the firewire port) and my new 2016 MacBook Pro (w/o TouchBar). I started the older MacBook in target mode, and then ran the Migration Assistant on the new MacBook. Everything went OK, and was much faster than WiFi. I have an older firewire hard drive, and that works fine through the adapter. I can't comment on the longevity of the adapter.

      • Written by Howard B from Pittsford

      0 of 1 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Works fine for my use (Migration Assistant)

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      breaks super fast

      i have bought 2 of these and both only lasted me 4-6 uploads from my videocamera before breaking. i thought maybe it was my fire wire so i got a new fire wire b i have bought 2 of these and both only lasted me 4-6 uploads from my videocamera before breaking. i thought maybe it was my fire wire so i got a new fire wire but nothing changed. i tested both firewires directly into very old computers that still had the firewire plug and both worked fine. Amazing how a technology developed by apple in the late 80s works better than the adapters they make for that tech now...

      • Written by Alexander D from Hermosa Beach

      0 of 1 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?breaks super fast

    Read all 21 customer reviews

  • Answers from the community

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