Is the multifunction grip USB port USB 2.0 or 3.0?

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Thanks. Having trouble finding an answer to this question.

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If it is USB 2.0, what has to be done to make it USB 3.0?

 

Is it a firmware upgrade or a hardware upgrade, and if it's the latter (which I suspect), is it a hardware upgrade to the camera or the grip?

 

I'm considering buying the grip as early as tomorrow (my dealer has one), but I may delay my purchase if it is USB 2.0 and if USB 3.0 requires not just a firmware change but a hardware change that can be implemented in the grip rather than the camera.

 

If anyone has data on the speed with the grip, that would be very helpful information.

 

I'd love Thunderbolt, but not exactly holding my breath

 

Thanks.

[bephoto]

I have the grip and I use it on daily basis shooting editorials, tethered always. its pretty fast a lot faster than hasselblad 50MP. obviously bcuz of file size DOH! but you can just go burst shooting and in a few secs u get all the previews. use compressed dng if ur in a hurry.

[bephoto]

btw haven't seen the first stable thunderbolt device yet so I hope they won't commit that mistake.

[Stef63]

It is USB 2.0 (according the manual).

 

But why would you delay your purchase if it's not 3.0? There is zero chance Leica will ever release a firmware upgrade that makes the grip USB 3.0 (if it would be only a matter of firmware). Hey, they let us wait 16 months for the grip. So why would they now bother about the transfer speed?

 

From the limited experience I have with the grip (only 2 weeks) transfer speed is adequate. So no need to worry about USB 3.0 in my opinion.

[previlo]

AFAIK it is not the case that USB3.0 can be easily added via SW; in most cases this requires a different I/O chip (i.e. USB chipset), so in other words if the grip is USB 2.0, it will stay USB 2.0.

Otherwise if you ship a device with an USB 3.0 chip on board, you release it as an USB3.0 supported device, because it is natively implemented...

[jip]

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Yes, USB 2.0 is not upgradable to USB 3.0 just like USB 1 was not upgradable to USB 2.0. It's in the hardware chipset of the device, however a USB 3 port (female) on your end device (computer) is backwards compatible, so a USB 3 port kan use a USB 2 and 1 device, also a USB 3.0 device will work on a computer with a USB 1 or 2 port, but will be restricted to use the speeds of those interfaces.... meaning that some devices will not work because they need a minimum speed to work with.

 

If the handgrip is USB 2.0 now, it will never become USB 3.0 as I don't see Leica making a MF handgrip MK2

[StS]

In addition to the chipset, there is also a hardware difference; devices, which support USB3.0 come with five additional data lines, (two differential Tx, two differential Rx and one GND). These contacts come in a 2.0 downward compatible A-connector or on the side with the micro-connector.

 

As a side note, a new C-connector has just been announced, which will work in both directions, like the Apple Lighting plug.

To keep things interesting, there was also an announcement of a new USB3.1 standard with double the data rate of 3.0 this summer.

 

Stefan

[mjh]

So far, camera vendors haven’t been eager to support USB 3.0 – a couple of Nikon DSLRs do offer USB 3.0, and also the Pentax K-3, but most new cameras still use USB 2.0.

 

If it is USB 2.0, what has to be done to make it USB 3.0?

 

Is it a firmware upgrade or a hardware upgrade, and if it's the latter (which I suspect), is it a hardware upgrade to the camera or the grip?

I rather doubt there will ever be an upgrade to support USB 3.0.

 

If you think that USB 3.0 would make a difference, a USB 3.0 card reader will be your best bet.

[Paul J]

Every USB 3 port I have has worn and lost it's connection to the point you just tap it with your finger and the disk unmounts. I have read this as a common issue on the net. I really wouldn't want USB 3 connection in it's current form. USB 2 dirt connection is very stable and secure in that matter.

[Guest redge]

The USB 3.0 ports on my 15" MacBook Pro (late 2013) work fine.

 

My USB 3.0 Lexar card reader works fine.

 

In New York, at least, it is clear that manufacturers and retailers of storage media are rapidly moving to USB 3.0.

 

I don't see why Leica can't or won't do it in their $900 handgrip (assuming that that's where the upgrade has to happen), and the sooner the better. It's not like they're short on profit margin.

[Guest redge]

If you think that USB 3.0 would make a difference, a USB 3.0 card reader will be your best bet.

 

If one of my principal reasons for purchasing the multifunction handgrip is tethering, that is not only not my best bet, it is no bet, isn't it?

 

Especially if part of the issue, for me, is how the multifunction handgrip handles tethered video throughput

 

Cheers

[pop]

I don't see why Leica can't or won't do it in their $900 handgrip

 

I can. Of the various enhancements in the USB protocol, I can see but two which would even be applicable to the M's handgrip:

 

Data transfer rate is increased from 480Mb/s to about 5Gb/s. Do we have any information on whether the M even exhausts the 480 Mb/s limit?

 

There is some handshake added which obviates the need for polling whether the device (the handgrip and the M) is ready to continue its communication.

 

Other enhancements - such as bidirectional data lines enabling full duplex traffic or the ability to draw more power - seem to me rather academic in this context.

 

Also, since USB 3.0 will be dated by the time Leica could implement it in the handgrip, why not call for 3.1 right from the beginning, given that the device costs $900 ?

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Data transfer rate is increased from 480Mb/s to about 5Gb/s. Do we have any information on whether the M even exhausts the 480 Mb/s limit?

 

Yes, this is why I raised the question of whether it would require a change only to the handgrip or also a change to the camera.