Firewire problems on MBP
I've been reading of the problems with the power supply of the new MBP via the firewire port when shooting tethered. Is this a problem when the laptop is working from battery power only or even when the laptop is plugged in? Also, is it a problem with all P backs? I'm shooting a P20 and also a Mk1 Ds.
Guy
Contax/P20/Mac
Guy
Contax/P20/Mac
0
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Guy,
The voltage from a FW bus on any machine other than a tower is too variable to provide enough power to a Digital Back, irregardless of either AC power or Battery power.
See Knowledge Base article:
http://www.phaseone.com/Content/Support ... nguageid=1
P20 and P25 then must use a Portable Solution to assure enough power, OR
a 6>4 pin firewire cable that disables the power supplied and then the Pback battery can be used for power. Both are available from Dealer.
Regards,
k c0 -
Hi Keith,
Do you have a photo of what on of these portable solutions looks like?
does't it use a regualr video battery that I can get at eletronics store ?
What kind of battery life can i expect working in the field ?
Does it have a belt clip ?
Calumet Photo Chicago rental doesn't have one for rental there isn't one in stock to purchase.
Where on PhaseOne site is it , to take a look at ?
Brain0 -
Hi Keith. Are you saying that NO laptop is going to adequately power a digital back through a firewire port?
I've been shooting for about one year now with my P20 and have shot at least half a dozen jobs on location with my OLD 12\" G4 867Hz Titanium running off AC power with no problems (other than REALLY slow!). With the P battery removed. Been using the standard FW cable supplied with the back. So I don't follow your comments. Am I missing something?
Guy0 -
Brian,
There is no image at our site, but I Googled one at Calumet:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/PE7060 ... FR01&sc=US
It is a Battery and Repeater with cables to connect between camera and host computer.
The Battery is a large Video 12V 2.oAh sealed battery. Search on the P-series Forum there have been discussion by owners on their experiences with batteries.
No belt clip, should last a long day of shooting.
Guy,
I will say that tethered shooting to other than a Tower, IS NOT supported by Phase One unless a Portable Solution is used or the 6>4 pin FW cable and using the Pback battery.
Many Dback owners - like you - have been able to shoot successfully tethered to a laptop without using one.
Some have purchased a new Powerbook and then discover they no longer can shoot. This is due to this variability in the power output.
With the potential to lose an entire photo shoot, yes - with art directors, talent on the set, and multiple staff... many don't want to take this risk.
When a Support Case is submitted regarding this worst case scenario of a lost photo shoot or no connection, all that can be said is Sorry - Not Supported.
So they either haul a Tower to location, use the Portable Solution, or the Pback Battery.
The New Generation of P21, P30 and P45 have a setting for Battery Power.
The P20 and P25 do not have this setting, so only way is to use 6>4 pin FW cable.
Sincerely,
k c0 -
Thanks Kieth for the update.
I do have a comment though. As you are aware, many pro photographers shoot on location, away from a studio. I would guess a very considerable percentage of your P back customers do. Laptops are an essential piece of equipment for us. For the price we pay for our excellent digital backs it seems to me that Phase One falls short in its marketing when we owners have to pay an additional $800 to buy a portable solution just so we can reliably shoot all day from our laptops. And frankly, having to use the included Canon batteries that we have to change maybe 5 times in a long day's shoot isn't very satisfactory. From my experience it seems the battery always needs changing at the "wrong" moment in a shoot.
If you know this is a generic problem with all laptops why isn't a solution to the problem INCLUDED in the kit we buy? You tout these systems as ideal for studio and location but in reality they are not even "Supported" for what many of us need for location shooting. How about including a better solution in future kits, please?
Guy0 -
I don't think that this is a problem with ALL laptops...
Probably ALL Apple Laptop (recent) but not the DELL, AlienWare and Other PC compatible "windows laptop"
They are not as "cute" but they are not underpowered and they know how to use Intel core instruction set.
Have fun.0
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