Shooting tethered: long fw cable

[ChristianLandry]

The firewire/usb2 cables that come with most cameras are way too short to be used when i have to keep the computer away from the shoot (30 feet or more). I don't know of any "extension cable" to do the job, have anyone use such a thing ?

[Ian_D_Griffiths]

Hi Christian,

I know with my old Kodak DCS and with the 1Ds that the longest cable I can use is a 6m. However, I do use a 4 port Belkin Firewire hub (powered) and then I can use it to join 2 6m cables giving me up to 12m. This works perfectly.

Ordinary plug together FW extentions don't work, I think the extended cable increases the resistance beyond the critical point.

Cable can be bought inexpensivly from Videk - Clearly A Company With Vision or direct from Belkin.

( I didn't put the bit in after Videk?)

Hope that helps.

[ChristianLandry]

Thanks Ian. Your post lead me to a Canadian source : Vistek.ca ( V rules !!! )

Chris

[Josh_Hawkins]

Chris,

If your camera uses USB you can get a USB extension cable with a repeater in it. Basically it uses the power that runs through the USB cable to boost the signal. Works real well for me. I got mine from calument, but they are available from all kinds of places.

[michaelnotar]

check out this link: Newnex FireWire 800 IEEE 1394 Cables

if you need over 14ft, then you need FW 800, i never had luck with any repeaters etc. (FW 400 is limited to 14.5 ft, 800 to 100ft i think) i am connecting to my phase one back (6pin FW 400). so i bought a FW 800 cable 9-6pin, 30ft, it connects to the computer in the FW 800 slot, so it has enough power to cover the lenght, doesnt run any faster though. works great.

in the past i had seen a place that sold FW 400 cables 50, 100ft and beyond, and they didnt work, but would like to find such a place again.

[BobSmith]

Originally Posted by michaelnotar

in the past i had seen a place that sold FW 400 cables 50, 100ft and beyond, and they didnt work, but would like to find such a place again.

I bought several 10 meter (33 feet?) cables from a place that had lengths like that. I can't recall the name either. They worked fine with a variety of Kodak cameras... 14n, 760, 720.

I use a 5D now and tether with multiple USB repeater cables. I typically work with about 40ft of total length. Very reliable. These came from Cables To Go

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