Does anyone have the definitive answer now if legacy cameras, video, etc. is supported by Big Sur? I can't ask this question in a thread that already exists because no one's asked a question lately. Doesn't mean the question's been answered, right? So .... tick tock tick tock ....
Mac mini, macOS 10.14
Firewire is perfectly compatible with Big Sur. I don't know where you got the idea that it is not. What you need, of course, is the proper adapter. Is your Mac Mini and Intel or M1 model? Apple sells a Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter.
You night want to check out this website for more information.
https://www.lifewire.com/mac-usb-c-to-old-peripherals-4122273
Firewire is perfectly compatible with Big Sur. I don't know where you got the idea that it is not. What you need, of course, is the proper adapter. Is your Mac Mini and Intel or M1 model? Apple sells a Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter.
You night want to check out this website for more information.
https://www.lifewire.com/mac-usb-c-to-old-peripherals-4122273
Take @etresoft's advice, get yourself a new USB drive and copy your files now.
FWIW, Firewire was left to go by the wayside by the electronics industry
years ago.
Also, if you are still running Mojave, are you even sure your current Mac can run Big Sur?
BTW, I still have a dual 1 GHz G5 PowerMac I breakout every now and then in winter when I need a space heater.
Search this forum for "Firewire support and Big Sur" will answer your question as to where I got the idea it is not. The last post on that thread was Dec 2020.
PS Someone mentioned that firewire was developed forty years ago. So? I am transferring family heirloom videos that are 30-40 yrs old. I'm supposed to throw those out? I know I'm going to lose the perfectly find CD/DVD player/writer I have because it's 32 arch. And BTW, anyone interested in purchasing a 2002 Quicksilver and the 24" monitor that came with it, it's sitting in my basement. The battery needs to be replaced (or repaired) but I have two really good HDs in it. Just haven't done anything with it. :-)
That's what I'm in the process of doing. And was about to pull the trigger from Mojave and, having been burned in the past with "obsolete/perfectly fine apps and peripherals", decided to check first. I can't "upgrade" the Handycam Digital 8 tapes. I have to import to iMovie in real time, and btw, that's also a minefield regarding "media compatibility." I've run it numerous times. I'll choose a file, say "Movie XYZ" and click on "check compatibility" and a pop up window will say "checking media ABC" and run and then stop. When I check on the Movie XYZ again nothing happens, so I don't know if it's okay or not. I did run this Check a long time ago, and it did take awhile to do something - have no idea - but I haven't a clue as to find out the hidden info on whether the movie upgraded to H.something or other or not.
TuckerdogAVL wrote:
Does anyone have the definitive answer now if legacy cameras, video, etc. is supported by Big Sur?
I can definitely tell you that you should not assume FireWire will work now or in the future. If you have any personal data that is dependent on FireWire equipment, you need to transfer all of that data to a modern format.
Do this now.
You can read more about the tragedy of Firewire here. Apple asked for a 25 cent license fee for FireWire and the rest of the industry just laughed and dropped it altogether. But when Apple uses technology from other companies, they are expected to pay billions.
I tried to use my old iSight FireWire camera years ago, on a 2011 computer that still had a FireWire port, and it didn't work at all. If your current FireWire equipment still works, the only thing you should use it for is to transfer your data to something else.
I have an 400 to an 800 to a lightning now. I'm using it on Mojave. The question is about Big Sur. Unless Big Sur has a problem with all the adapters I've purchased thru the years. Thanks. It's Late 2014 right now. Don't dare upgrade to the M1 yet.
Firewire support and Big Sur. It's now August 2021
