usb vs firewire

[mven74]

i hope you guys could help me, i have a DV cam and would like to transfer my videos to my hard drive. my question is, do i loose image quality using usb compared to firewire? if so, how much? thanks!

[Tsmith]

You won't loose image quality, the Firewire is just a faster technology for transferring the data.

[coreypolis]

not all camcorders will transfer via usb. many will just transfer still images via usb. If you plan to do a lot of video, invest ina firewire card. for a desktop they are pretty inexpensive (I paid $11).

[Becca]

I just had to install a fireware card in my PC for my video camera (Canon ZR500). It wouldn't work with a USB.

[NickSimcheck]

I'm assuming it's 1394IEE or whatever coming from the camera? Stick with Firewire.

[purelithium]

Firewire has a steadier rate of data transmission than USB, USB tends to spike and dip more, sometimes causing errors or just taking longer to transfer files, even though it's theoretical maximum throughput is higher than firewire (480mbit/s VS 400mbit/s, respectively). I have never seen a USB device use the bandwidth to it's fullest potential.

[Jon]

Most, if not all DV cameras rely on Firewire (IEEE 1394) for video transfer; I haven't seen any that do USB for the video as opposed to still and setup, but that's not to say that there are some new or obscure ones which can.

[gjl711]

Though USB2 is faster than firewire 400 by the numbers, firewire uses a efficient peer-to-peer architecture to USBs master/slave architecture so firewire moves data more efficiently. Firewire could have been the standard all data transfers used but Apple charged everyone who wanted to use the technology a buck per port thus insuring all would migrate to the upstart USB. I think Apple has reduced their licencing fee, but more and more your seeing USB grow in popularity and firewire just hanging in.