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

  • Mac Models

    • 13-inch MacBook Air
    • 11-inch MacBook Air
    • 13-inch MacBook Pro
    • 15-inch MacBook Pro
    • 21.5-inch iMac - Thunderbolt 2
    • 27-inch iMac - Thunderbolt 2
    • Mac Pro
    • Mac mini

  • 3.0 Average
    3 out of 5 stars
    Number of stars Percentage Number of reviews
    5 Stars(Read all reviews)
    39%
    		11reviews
    4 Stars(Read all reviews)
    7%
    		2reviews
    3 Stars(Read all reviews)
    14%
    		4reviews
    2 Stars(Read all reviews)
    4%
    		1reviews
    1 Star(Read all reviews)
    36%
    		10reviews
    Write a review
    • 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

      62 of 64 people found this useful

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

    • 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

      59 of 60 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Does what I need

    • 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

      61 of 67 people found this useful

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

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      Flimsy thunderbolt plug

      It usually works fine until you move your device. Often disconnects if you touch it and falls off if you move your device. The issue with pretty much all th It usually works fine until you move your device. Often disconnects if you touch it and falls off if you move your device. The issue with pretty much all thunderbolt 1 and 2 apple connectors that I used including display cables. I think it is greatly overpriced considering this problem.

      • Written by Maciej R from London

      11 of 13 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Flimsy thunderbolt plug

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Works fine, just be careful to have an old version of iMovie

      Wanted to connect up an old 2005 Canon DV camcorder to my MacBook Air 2017 - and yes it works! I needed a FireWire 400 to 800 adapter (found on internet) and t Wanted to connect up an old 2005 Canon DV camcorder to my MacBook Air 2017 - and yes it works! I needed a FireWire 400 to 800 adapter (found on internet) and there are a few bugs with the clips getting muddled up by year/month. The trick is to have the right version of iMovie - I have version '09 (version 8.0.6) since this is my 3rd MacBook and I have always imported the disk and not reinstalled the various Apple components unless required.

      • Written by Matthew T from Etoy

      2 of 2 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Works fine, just be careful to have an old version of iMovie

    • 1.0 out of 5 stars

      This adapter won't work with new iMacs

      So I buy a brand new (2017) top of the line 27" iMac (this is my 3rd iMac) and it doesn't have a connection for my Firewire RAID external hard drive. So I orde So I buy a brand new (2017) top of the line 27" iMac (this is my 3rd iMac) and it doesn't have a connection for my Firewire RAID external hard drive. So I order a Thunderbolt to Firewire (Apple) adapter from B&H Photo. Guess what, it won't work with my new iMac because the adapter is Thunderbolt 2 and the new iMac has Thunderbolt 3 connections. I think Apple needs to clearly state in the description of this adapter that it is only for Thunderbolt 2 and will not work with current iMacs. My RAID drive also has eSATA so I am ordering an adapter cable to connect to the USB-3 ports. Let's hope that works. Be prepared that when you buy that new Mac, you are going to be spending a lot of additional money on adapter cables or replacing your peripherals.

      • Written by Gary P from Austin

      17 of 20 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?This adapter won't work with new iMacs

    Read all 28 customer reviews

  • Answers from the community

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