Thrustmaster Tflight or Saitek x52?

DreadedLurgy

DreadedLurgy
I cannot decide :S

I currently have a Logitech Extreme3D Pro which is great but the more I read about the HOTAS sticks the more I think I can do so much more with one. I'm leaning towards the Saitek X52 but it's offset by the price against the Thrustmaster TFlight stick.

Has anyone here experience of both? Can you give some pros and cons?
 

CMDR ONI Vox

CMDR ONI Vox
Ello there fellow CMDR! If you like using a flight stick then deff go for the x52. In my experience the more buttons the better, and the twist rudder/yaw in the Saitek flight sticks is really nice. If you intend to spring for an x52 then maybe concider the x55. x55 is newer and nicer for only about $40 more than the x52 on average. I picked up my x55 for $200 even. Never regreted it. Would only regret not having bought it ^.-
check this great review if interested ^.^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIM_kt_18yI
good luck CMDR!!!
 

HeavyGroovez

HeavyGroovez
I have a Logitech 3D and just ordered the Thrustmaster. Don't trust Saitek, wanted to try one but I've heard too many stories of faulty units. Friend had 2 Rhinos and they both broke within a couple of weeks. I had a Fly 5 and the yaw broke within 2 weeks. I'm sure they are awesome when you get a good one but I'm not risking it.

Isinona uses a Thrustmaster HOTAS and his flight control skills are as good as it gets so it must be pretty good...
 

BrewerGeorge

BrewerGeorge
I have the T.Flight, and I like it very well. But in retrospect, I don't think I would buy it again. A lot of the reviews say that the cable connecting the two sides is too short, and I thought that was a ridiculous "problem" when I ordered it, and even when I first started using it. But the more I use it, the more it irritates me. The thing is just too short to let you set the throttle and stick on opposite sides of a keyboard (or laptop in my case) without going over the top of it. There's not enough slack in the cable to even tuck it in front; it has to go right over the top of the spacebar. And forget any thoughts of mounting them to a chair or something. The joystick works great, but this design decision is wearing on my. I'm much too cheap to replace a perfectly functioning setup, so I'm stuck with it for the near future. Think seriously about your playing setup and make sure it won't be a problem for you. If not, it's a great stick.
 

DreadedLurgy

DreadedLurgy
Thank you all, mixed bag of replies here and I'm still not swayed at the moment. I guess it'll come down to "if I have enough cash at the end of the month then I'll go for the most expensive stick I can afford" senario.

I'm looking at the 'thrusting while turning' aspect without faffing around at the keyboard, only one HAT on the logitech which is one reason why I'm looking at the HOTAS but I guess that comes down to how I set it up.

Fly safe all :)
 
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Engadine

E
Have the Thrustmaster HOTAS-X and it's great, slowly adding VA and the two together is time well spent.

The HOTAS-X is great value for money, and come highly recommended by many others out there.
 

So Much For Subtlety

S
The X52 stick is quite top-heavy. also the centering spring is IMO quite weak and that's on the pro with dual springs, also some people complain about a large deadzone. (There are mods out there, which help with both these weaknesses.)
The throttle has two detents - power off+ afterburner - which are of no use and can IMO be very anoying, can be easily removed though.
Conclusio: I think the throttle (without the detents) is very good, the stick however sucks.
I use my ancient MSFFBII in combination with the X52 Pro throttle, as I just can't stand the Saitek stick.
The plethora of buttons and coolie hats on the X52 stick are undeniably useful though...
 

Rivka

R
Personally, I find the X52 pro to be a little more ergonomic for my hands, with good placement of buttons. The spring though, is weak, and you need to do a little modding to get rid of detents in the throttle.
 

Jez

Jez
I have an X52. It would be great but for all the messing about I've had to do to make sure 99% of the buttons work in game. I have to keep the Joystick control panel open in the background for all of the buttons to work. (except for one scroll wheel on the throttle - it refuses to work in game).

Nothing mechanically wrong with it. I guess I should be happy with 32 buttons, but I just want the last one to work :)

Have compensated by using voice attack, so alls well.
 
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Kramster

Kramster
I used a Razer Tartarus/3D pro combo and it worked great. (did have a G13 but it started acting weird)
I have upgraded my stick to a Warthog (was on offer :)) it gives me more options on the stick while I still use the tartarus instaed of a throttle
The main advantage of X52 over the TFlight is the number of control options it gives, the throttle is nice but not a must for me with the Razer
 
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Rhaedas

Rhaedas
The only downfalls of the Thrustmaster have been mentioned, the cord between is not terribly long and it has less buttons. But if either are issues for you, they are also solvable. You can use cat5 plugs to make it however long you need [(see here)](https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/2d9tsw/hotas_x_throttle_cable_extension/), and as for the buttons, Voice Attack or other macro programs can take care of non-flight things, leaving you plenty for actual stuff like thrusters and firing.

Having messed with the Saiteks before, this is a much more solid stick. I didn't like how loose the Saitek was.

My suggestion, get a Thrustmaster if you can find one, try it out. If you feel that you need something more, then you can always unload it unto Ebay or whatever, the demand for it is quite high. But a lot of people are using it with great results.
 

Engadine

E
Something to be aware of is that on the Thrustmaster you can use "Shift" buttons.

On my set-up I use Button No. 5 for my "Shift" button. This then allows me to use the thumb stick (or is it called the hat stick??) for docking; Up/Down for Thrusting Up/Down and Left/Right for Thrust Back/Forward.

With five axes and twelve buttons, there will always be some functions that can't be included and will require the keyboard or Voice Attack, even if you do start using "Shift" buttons.
 

OneAmongOthers

OneAmongOthers
Saitek X52 user here. No problems with the flight stick or setting it up to play Elite. The spring is no where near weak in my opinion. If your rough with it perhaps. But normal use should last you quite awhile. My only gripe is that the flight stick sometimes acts up, so I got to unplug it and replug it back in. This is rare and doesnt happen often so I can live with it.
 

pilode

P
If you like your $$$, the T-Flight HOTAS X can't be wrong. (I use it in ED, but I don't feel I even need it in the sort of flight simulation I do : an Extreme 3D does fine there...)
 
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