Questions & Answers for Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter

This adapter has a thunderbolt 1 style plug. It won't work with USB-c/TB3. I think it will work with a TB to TB3 adapter. I have such an adapter and it works with my Belgian TB dock, which has a Firewire800 port. I haven't tried the FW800 on the dock, but USB 3.0 and the Displayport connector all work. I think This adapter would work with a TB to TB3 adapter.

• Answered by Eric F from Lutherville
• 11-Dec-2016
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Will this adapter connect directly to the new MacBook Pro 2016 USB-c/thunderbolt ports?)

This adapter converts FW800 to thunderbolt, you'll need a FW800 to FW 400 then

• Answered by Jonathan S
• 4-Jan-2017
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Do I need an adapter to connect a FW400 to my thunderbolt firewire adapter)

You would need to buy a firewire 800 to 400 adapter to get it to work.

• Answered by Jonathan S from Cincinnati
• 16-Dec-2014
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does the most recent Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter also work with FireWire 400? Need it for mini DV camcorders.)

it's actually really simple ... and I just had to figure this out recently myself after upgrading my IMAC. You just need a THUNDERBOLT to FIREWIRE adapter from Apple. I picked one up for $29.00 So, connect the new adapter to your iMAC ... connect the Firewire to the new adapter and the other end to your Canon HV30 (or camcorder with a DV output).

Just a heads up ... the end of the Thunderbolt adapter is a 9-pin Firewire (Firewire 800). You will need a 9-pin to 4-pin Firewire cable.

• Answered by Brian C from Collegeville
• 18-Aug-2014
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (What do I need to connect my Canon Vixia HV30 camera to thunderbolt on an iMac?)

You need a few items to make this work.
Firstly you need the thunderbolt to firewire adapter, then you need either a firewire 800 to 4 pin firewire cable OR a standard Sony iLink firewire 400 cable and a 800 to 400 adapter.
I already had the Sony iLink 400 cable so went with the 800 to 400 adapter.
Connect everything together and put the camera into playback/VCR mode. Open whatever Mac video program you're using (iMovie 9/Final Cut Pro X work fine) then go to capture and a window will open allowing you to control the camera from the program.
Look at the specifics for the program you are using.
My camera is a Sony PCR100 Hi8 camera from early 2001 and this method works perfectly with my 2013 iMac.

• Answered by Colin E
• 4-Mar-2014
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (I have a Sony Hi 8 video camera. How do I transfer the video to my MacBook Pro 13 Retina with Thunderbolt?)

No, the adapter works the other way around. It's to connect a Mac with a thunderbolt port to a device that has a Firewire800 port.

• Answered by Graham D
• 2-Aug-2012
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is it possible to use this to connect an iMac with FireWire to a Thunderbolt external hard drive?)

Yes.

I bought Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter for my Mac Book Pro with Retina Display. Then I realized it is FireWire 800 instead of FireWire 400. I bought the iWires FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 Cable and used it with Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter and was able to capture video from my Sony DV recorder using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

I think it is possible to use the Belkin FireWire 800/400 9-Pin to 4-Pin Cable as well, although I have not try it. Just make sure your DV recorder is using 4-pin or 6-pin FireWire port.

• Answered by Tang Fung W from Hong Kong
• 30-Aug-2012
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter be used for capturing video from DV recorders and/or cameras? Thanks in advance for any response)

I use it with mine, so yes you can. Be wary of the bad connection with the adaptor though, it falls out with the slightest movement.

• Answered by Ashley E
• 24-Feb-2014
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can I use this cable with my sapphire pro40)