Luminous Landscape Forum > Sinarback 54H Question for Thierry & Others

fpoole

Feb 7 2007, 07:42 AM

Thierry,

I am about to purchase a new macbook pro for tethered use with a sinarback 54H attached to Contax 645 and sometime a P3.

In another thread you mentioned the lower voltage firewire ports on the new mackbook pros. Is there an issue in powering the 54H, with the new macbooks. I can remember reading something about this being an issue with some backs.

I am using a G4 powerbook now for location work, which works fine, just a little slow. Would you recommend staying with this for now? Would I be gaining, losing or breaking even by upgrading computer?

Thanks,

Frank Poole

thsinar

Feb 7 2007, 07:50 AM

QUOTE (fpoole @ Feb 7 2007, 07:42 PM)

Thierry,

I am about to purchase a new macbook pro for tethered use with a sinarback 54H attached to Contax 645 and sometime a P3.

In another thread you mentioned the lower voltage firewire ports on the new mackbook pros. Is there an issue in powering the 54H, with the new macbooks. I can remember reading something about this being an issue with some backs.

I am using a G4 powerbook now for location work, which works fine, just a little slow. Would you recommend staying with this for now? Would I be gaining, losing or breaking even by upgrading computer?

Thanks,

Frank Poole

Dear Frank,

it can be an issue with any back and any brand: it is a fact that Apple has lowered the voltage from the FW ports. Further more the voltage is not constant from one Mac to the other (ne might work, another with the same configuration not). Some like Phase are recommending a FW Amplifier piece.

We recommend to take a shorter cable than the original 10m which comes with the back.

Now and this being said: I have myself upgraded to the newest MacBook Pro 2.33 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo and have NO PROBLEM at all, with none of the Sinarbacks existing.
Most probably it will work for you as well and with the original 10m cable and with the SB 54 FW.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Thierry

fpoole

Feb 7 2007, 08:10 AM

Thierry,

Understood!

Thanks for your quick and informative reply.

Best,

Frank Poole

yaya

Feb 7 2007, 12:24 PM

Frank,

You should also know that the laptop's FW output is less consistent when running on battery than running on mains power, specifically when going below 50% charge.

Yair

thsinar

Feb 7 2007, 07:49 PM

QUOTE (yaya @ Feb 8 2007, 12:24 AM)

Frank,

You should also know that the laptop's FW output is less consistent when running on battery than running on mains power, specifically when going below 50% charge.

Yair

Thanks Yair,

absolutely true and very important, especially when running in multishot mode like with the SB 54 H.

Thierry

rainer_v

Feb 8 2007, 04:56 AM

QUOTE (thsinar @ Feb 8 2007, 12:49 AM)

Thanks Yair,

absolutely true and very important, especially when running in multishot mode like with the SB 54 H.

Thierry

a point which is also hard to find out is that the fireware cable can make a big difference in the function of the 54h.
even a small bend or break ( which might be not visible ) can affect the function.
i had this case appearing in multishot mode. so in case you experience any strange problems,
try to exchange the fw cable.

fpoole

Feb 12 2007, 09:52 AM

QUOTE (rehnniar @ Feb 8 2007, 05:56 AM)

a point which is also hard to find out is that the fireware cable can make a big difference in the function of the 54h.
even a small bend or break ( which might be not visible ) can affect the function.
i had this case appearing in multishot mode. so in case you experience any strange problems,
try to exchange the fw cable.

Rainer,

Excellent point! Thanks. The cable is the last thing we think about. Live video is sometimes not consistent on my back - I didn't think about the cable because it "looks" ok.
I just ordered 2 new ones as backup.

www.granitedigital in California is a good source for high quality FW cables.

Best,

Frank Poole