Saitek X52 Flight Control System
by Saitek
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List Price: Our Price: $84.99 You Save: $14.96 (15%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Saitek X52 Flight Control System
Customer Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
EDIT: Use a bit of silicone grease under the plastic swash plate disk to drastically reduce friction and improve control fidelity. Audio fader or scuba types work well, but you may also find it at a hardware store. Teflon grease also works. Use thick grease. Do not use petroleum-derived products on plastic.
We can't compare this stick to Thrustmaster really because their stuff now is garbage. Thrustmaster pretty much forced Suncom (maker of the fab F-15 series) out of business with lawsuits claiming the newcomer was infringing on their patents to produce "realistic" flight sticks. Then we now have a monopoly on the supposedly authentic stuff which has produced crap like The Cougar. Thanks Thrustmaster! Then there's CH Products...good, smooth, but ugly, expensive, and low resistence. Saitek has been making these strange looking, possibly gimmick-rich products for a while. I think they've finally created a near ultimate HOTAS with the X52.
Clearly if you don't like twist rudders on the stick (as the real Comanche has) then you need to buy some pedals (everyone raves about CH's). But the throttle alone on this Saitek is worth the price. X-Plane and Longbow Anthology (when it works, which is rarely...might have to partition Win '95 spot for it) love this system. Every trim control and slider is recognized in X-Plane. In Longbow 1/2 I have most of the flight and cockpit commands in just one main mode and its pinkie mode. I'll save another mode and its pinkie equivolent for campaign comm stuff. That still leaves two more modes on this thing. Amazing. It's a bit of a headache programming it, but not from the standpoint of design. There's so much you can do with it that it's easy to get overwhelmed with where to put what command. Then you realize you could put such and such on a pinkie shift mode and move it over to the next button, yadda yadda yadda. It'll take hours unless you sit down and plan out your programming strategy ahead of time. But it pays off. Oh, and the mouse stick on the throttle works fine. I'm using it right now to surf the net since my Viewsonic optical was DOA (with no warranty, instructions, 800-number...unbelievable). I don't want to take my hands off the controls to retract flaps and gear after just taking off in an F-4...it's the easiest moment to stall.
My first gripe is that the twist rudder is a little weak on the spring to the right, but I set a significant deadspot in the control panel configuration to prevent me from accidentally yawing when I don't want to. Also, I haven't managed to get the toggles or the fire button to recognize pinkie shifts. For instance, I wanted engine offs and weapons jetison to be toggles+pinkie, with the fire+pinkie as master arm. It doesn't work with that, in Longbow Anthology, at least. But I need the keyboard nearby for a variety of other commands anyway, so it's not a big deal. I leave master arm on, I just wanted the neat effect of switching to it on the fly. There's nothing quite like having laser designator on a stick button to trigger one or two seconds before a hellfire impact, though. The lower hat on the stick does tend to get flipped occasionaly, but I put all my target next/previous/best/close on it. That makes it less of an issue.
The stick is adjustable to your handsize (my first adjustment that seemed perfect actually was too cramped) and it feels well built. I completely discount any complaints that the stick is too easy to tip over or has too much range of motion. If you're not strapping, taping, tying or otherwise attaching them to something, then you're an idiot. You should do that with any HOTAS. Even with my old Playstation I had the Flight Force Pro throttle and stick tied to the flat arms of a wooden deck chair with wrapping present ribbon/string. Couch throw pillows, queen size pillow, and standard pillow made great cushions. You can get a whole flight seat set up with just stuff around the house or from the local department store. Friends would freak out seeing me with Gunship 2000, Ace Combat 2, Colony Wars, and Star Fighter with that setup. Like I said, if you don't do twist rudders, buy pedals. If you don't like the stick, buy a CH one. The throttle is probably the best out there. I like the Saitek how it is and for the price you're getting stick and rudder for free when the only thing left on the market anymore that can compete with this is CH at $100 per item. I'm thrilled with my purchase.
Saitek has very few useful profiles, and it is not easy to make good ones. Go to Simhq and look for any of my posts. I have a link at the bottom of my signature that will take you to a zip of profiles. Amazon apparently doesn't allow for URL's to be listed.
Customer Review: Miracle for Combat Sims
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had at least 15 years of flight sim games using a joystick under my belt, and this is the best stick I've ever used. I will warn in the blurb area: This is not for young kiddies.
I've gone through a Sidewinder Precision pro, a solid Thrustmaster, and at least 3 'child grade' thurstmaster sticks (including at least one Top Gun). That's just the ones I owned, not even what I've used. This stick, which I bought refurbished for $40 less than new, is on year 5 or 6 without any major signs of wear. The only worn part is the S-video type cable that connects the stick and throttle is getting weak (a $4 fix). I've managed to keep it in shape by not playing like I'm 6 again, it otherwise seems to take care of itself well.
The layout makes pretty good sense. All but a few buttons are on the throttle and stick, and the few that aren't can be used for less vital functions. Real pilots do move their hands to change the flaps, lights, and whatnot. The pinkie switch can be moved up for smaller hands, or kept in the same position for larger hands. The safety on the second button is a godsend, it keeps you from making a mistake on the ground or before you're on target. The two-stage trigger is also a wonderful piece of work. A two stage trigger means there are two pulls in it, pull halfway and one function is done. Pull all the way and another is done. More on that later.
Large hands should fit in the stick just fine, so long as it's not a bear claw in there. The hardest areas to reach are the hats on the front of the throttle and top left of the stick, but even those aren't much trouble, just a quick shift away. The suction cups do a reasonable job of keeping it down if you're on a good surface,
The software is important to the stick because it allows all sorts of amenities to come into play. The mouse on the throttle works once it's installed, and it has a left and right click and a wheel. It's not particularly awesome, but it does let you navigate a map on the screen without removing your hands from the stick. The LEDs can be turned down or off here, stick deadzones can be set(if you need a little play in it, whether it's getting old or you're a little shaky), and the current time put in.
You wouldn't think the time would be important, but it'll save you from getting into the game and realizing it's 4am. There's also a stopwatch on the MFD that can help you keep time to know how far you've flown or when to expect a visual on a target. If you forget your buttons often, you can even tell the software which button does what (and in each of the 3 modes), and when you simultaneously press the i button on the throttle and the button you forgot, it says what it does on the MFD. Nifty.
This set is built for complicated sims. If you're playing an arcade flight game or multi-style game (think Battlefield 1942, Nam, 2, 2142, BC, BC2), get a $20 for your stick, this isn't what you want. The massive amount of buttons and layout wonders are for sims like Flight Simulator or IL2 Sturmovik (one of, if not THE, most complicated WWII combat sims out). I don't do much FS because I find it dull. I like to turn, fight, and send my enemies down in flames. This stick lets me do that very effeciently. Il2 allows machine guns and cannons to be fired seperately or together (cannons are just massive guns, often with very limited ammo). I mentioned the 2 stage trigger earlier. I use the first stage for plain guns as I line up and close in on my target, and then use the second stage for both at once when my guns are on target. That saves ammo and the player an edge. The wide range of motion means that gently pulling on the stick is actually good, because a full-motion pull will send you into a stall of death. The wheels on the throttle are great for rudder and elevator trim, and the slider for prop pitch or fuel mixture changes. There is always something to do with this stick, and no button goes unused.
Saitek updates the drivers and software, and while there was a small gap in 64 bit and very (VERY) early Vista support, they took care of their customers and got the updates down. There's also a community of users that can supply fixes/support for older games on their forums and other websites. Look around and you'll find what you need.
Treat this baby well and she'll return the favor. If I was able to test them (and had money to spare), I would look at a Thrustmaster Cougar or X-65, but even this stick will have a few things you may or may not like better. As it stands, I have no reason to switch, and just have all the money saved by it. Cheaper does not equal cheap.
Customer Review: Very nearly perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
Saitek has always made good hardware, and the X52 was no exception. I briefly owned its predecessor, the X36, years ago, but returned it when I couldn't get the drivers to work (this was under Win98, mind you), but the feel of that hefty, chunky design stuck with me. When I found out about the X52 I just had to give it another go (having already bought and been quite satisfied with a Cyborg Evo), and I was not disappointed.
Since the grip on the main stick is adjustable, even my wimpy hand fits comfortably despite the sheer size of the design. Control is smooth, with perfectly tuned resistance that does not hang when centered. The throttle is adjustable; on the lowest setting it glides smoothly while on the highest it takes a fair bit of push to move. The primary and pinkie triggers are both solid metal and feel like they could take some serious abuse; the toggles on the base also feel solid. The flip cover over the primary fire button just feels awesome and is a huge improvement over the flip-down button of earlier models in this line.
The programming software included with the package is extremely useful; it allows you to create separate profiles for every game you play, changing button functions and even allowing you to switch which axis is which ( very handy, since not every game recognizes them the same way; just going with default settings I found that some games would actually recognize the slider and knob controls as the rudder or roll controls and not let me change them). Since I got the X52, I haven't had to mess around rebinding key commands to joystick buttons at all, which used to be a huge annoyance when reinstalling- now all I have to do is copy over my profiles and I'm set to go.
I only have a few complaints about this stick:
-The C button, located on the left side of the stick, is easy to press by accident due to its position and does not feel as durable as the rest of the controls.
-The drivers provided on the CD are THE ONLY ones that work for me; every time I've downloaded new drivers from the Saitek website they have screwed up everything and made necessary a complete wipe and reinstallation of the SST software.
-Some older games won't recognize the stick. To be honest, I've only had this problem with a handful of games, and they're all *really* old (Win95/98 old), but the problem does exist and the SST software can't compensate for it.
Nonetheless, the few issues I have had do not detract from the quality of the product or my satisfaction; this is the best of its breed and it will take something truly impressive to surpass it. Because the price is so much lower now than it was when I bought mine, I'd recommend this version of the X52 over the newer X52 Pro model- the improvements to the new design are marginal and not really worth the extra $40-$50 unless you absolutely have to be on the cutting edge.
Customer Review: Excellent HOTAS system, great bang for the buck
Summary: 5 Stars
As a previous owner of the X45 flight control system and avid flight sim junkie, I was compelled to upgrade my HOTAS system to something newer. I was originally looking at the Thrustmaster HOTAS system, but could not conjur up enough money to purchase one. After playing with the X52 at a LAN party, I was sold and went out and purchased one that night.
The X52 has loads of improvements over the X45 - not even mentioning the LCD MFD. One addition which I would have loved to see in the X45 are the eight removable suction cups on the bottom of the stick and throttle bases. The cups first out of the box will do some sliding around, but nothing so drastic that it'll mess your flights up. They do a great enough job to keep the stick down during normal use - provided that you don't slam the stick around, but for a flight system that costs this much, I don't think that'll be too much of a problem for most people.
Just like all other Saitek sticks, the X52 is fully customizable in both hardware and software. Not only can you move the lower shelf on the joystick up and down to fit your hand, but you can also adjust the force on the throttle stick. Like all other Saitek sticks, however, you cannot adjust the centering force on the stick itself. But I did not find this to be too much of a problem as it is much looser than all other HOTAS systems that I have owned. The X52 also comes with the Saitek SST programming software, which (again, like all other Saitek sticks) allows you to program every button on the joystick to either an axis, mouse axis, single keyboard stroke, or a complex macro.
I also fell in love with the three modes and color coded mode identification LED to let you know what mode you are in. As a result I can have a mode for A-A, one for A-G, and one mode for general tasks when playing Falcon 4.0: Allied Force, making it easier to keep my hands on the flight system at all times.
The MFD is also a cool addition to the X52. It has a time display to let you know what time it is in up to three time zones, as well as a built-in stopwatch to time your flights and coordinate your turns right on time. And if you can't remember what you programmed a button to - just simply hold down the info button and click the button you want to know about and voila! Your button's function is displayed on the screen.
All in all - a great HOTAS system for those of us that cannot afford the Thrustmaster HOTAS systems. This flight stick runs perfectly with games like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and Falcon 4.0 - my two choices and recommendations to pair up with this stick.
And for those of you who want to know about Windows XP Professional x64 support - the stick works perfectly using drivers available on the Saitek website.
Customer Review: Amazing value. Reliable performance.
Summary: 5 Stars
I will try not to repeat everything already said in these reviews, but the stick is an amazing value and hard not to praise. The fact that the price is so reasonable makes this an unbeatable HOTAS period!
Prior to purchasing the X52, I was using the low-end sticks like the MS Sidewinder series, and most recently the Logitech Extreme 3DPro. The problem was, as an avid flight simmer, I was wearing out the sticks every 1-2 months of heavy usage. New, out-of-the-box, the low end sticks were fine, but the potentiometers wore out and controls started spiking within weeks. After researching the alternatives thoroughly, I decided to give the X52 a try.
That was over 6 months ago now, and I have logged hundreds of hours of usage with nary a glitch. The signals are still as steady as the day I bought the system and I still do not need to use the deadzone adjustments to compensate. No buttons are loose, nothing is falling off and all the lights and led panel still work. I am amazed at the rugged reliability to date since I can be fairly hard on controllers in the heat of battle.
Of course every rose has its thorn and the X52 is no exception. With the CH products the thorn would be the cost. With the X52 its a bit more subtle. Besides MS Flight Sim 2004, I fly the IL2 Forgotten battle series and this is where the only limitation of the X52 comes into play. In a WW2 flight sim where the only air-to-air weapon is a set of fixed place machine guns, it is imperative that I get the gunsights properly and steadily placed to hit my target. The problem is X52 has a noticable built-in hardware deadzone from the center. In practical terms, what this means is I cannot make a tiny adjustment in pitch without an inordinate movement of the stick. Over time it became less problematic as I adjusted and compensated for this, but it remains an annoyance nonetheless. I feel like I have to be just "that much better" to fly in combat with this stick successfully than with another stick. It's hard to describe, but any sim pilot needing small precision movements or corrections from center will know exactly what I mean. If you fly jets with lock-on style ordinance, you will notice no drawbacks.
Overall, I could not be more hearty in my recommendation of this HOTAS. It's value is unchallenged to date and its reliability is a refreshing change from the low end sticks I was use to. Ironically, in the long run, this stick has actually saved me money over the low-end sticks I used to have to replace every couple months at $25 a pop.