Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?  (Read 9610 times)

VanKou

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 46
    • http://www.vankou.com

Hello:

My search for a similar topic did not yield any useful information so if this is asked before my apologies for your time.

I am thinking of switching to a Mac Platform (MacBook Pro) and tether a Imacon Ixpress 528C back to it (through the imagebank).  Does the powered Firewire offer enough power for the back?  I have heard that this was the case with the old MacBooks but things may be different now?

Thank you in advance.
Evangelos Koutsavdis
VanKou Photography
Logged

LiamStrain

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 116
    • http://www.streetlevel-photography.com
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2009, 11:50:43 pm »

While I have not tried the combination, I don't see why not. Especially since the MB Pro went firewire 800.

But hopefully someone with first hand experience can respond.

rolleiflexpages

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 180
    • http://www.rolleiflexpages.com
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2009, 05:09:42 am »

Quote from: LiamStrain
While I have not tried the combination, I don't see why not. Especially since the MB Pro went firewire 800.

But hopefully someone with first hand experience can respond.

On Apple systems FireWire 800, as was the case with FW 400, not only provides the interface but also power for a number of devices. Your setup should work.
Logged
Pascal Heyman - www.rolleiflexpages.com

CBarrett

  • Guest
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2009, 09:23:08 am »

As I understand it, you have to be careful with the amount of voltage available.  MBP's do provide power through their FW ports, but it's questionable whether they actually provide enough power to operate the backs without loss in quality.

Although I typically run my P65+ on it's own battery, I recently tried tethered powering from my 17" 2009 MBP.  With the laptop plugged in to its power supply the files seemed ok, with it running on battery power I was getting corrupted files (like hardly an image at all).  I've seen the same image loss result when outside in the cold and my P45+ battery lost strength.  You have to be careful because it's not always a matter of just on or off.

I do recall hearing that Apple reduced the power output of its portables fw ports in the last few years, probably to get better battery life.


Cheers,

CB
« Last Edit: December 30, 2009, 09:25:38 am by CBarrett »
Logged

RichA@FotoCare

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 38
    • http://fotocare.com
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2009, 11:46:09 am »

We rent several different MacBooks and have not had any major problems with any of the back systems.  Recommendations would be use AC power when available, change batteries when you get down to about 1/3, have additional batteries or external battery available, use 15' or shorter FW cable, max out RAM and upgrade Video Card where you would have 512MB.  We will often take out MacBooks on initial camera back demonstrations so we don't have to worry about the clients system or installing software and leave files with the clients, have not had any problems.

Best,
Rich Andres
Foto Care
41 West 22nd Street
NY, NY 10010
212-741-2990
Logged

Cfranson

  • Guest
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2009, 02:06:14 pm »

Quote from: VanKou
I am thinking of switching to a Mac Platform (MacBook Pro) and tether a Imacon Ixpress 528C back to it (through the imagebank).  Does the powered Firewire offer enough power for the back?  I have heard that this was the case with the old MacBooks but things may be different now?

I don't recall the 528c causing power issues on Mac laptops, but I may be forgetting something. Worst case, you can put a charged battery on the Imagebank while it's tethered and that should prevent any power issue from cropping up.
Logged

EricWHiss

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2639
    • Rolleiflex USA
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2009, 03:47:07 pm »

I have the 528c and have shot with it tethered to a mac book pro  (17inch intel duo)  using the firewire 400-800 adapter.   No problems so far, but I haven't worked with it extensively.   Also I can not recall what the affect on battery life is, but these have very good battery life anyhow compared to previous models.
Logged
Rolleiflex USA

K.C.

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 671
New MacBook Pro Firewire: Enough power for a Hasselblad Digital Back?
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2009, 01:20:54 pm »

Quote
I do recall hearing that Apple reduced the power output of its portables fw ports in the last few years, probably to get better battery life.

I recall hearing that posting conjecture, hearsay and faint recollections is useless and pointless. What do they add to, other than your post count, after all.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 01:21:15 pm by K.C. »
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up