3dconnexion - Worth It?

#1

I just found out about these ‘handy?’ asset which claims to be very useful for 3D work. There are a few options, (if you know about this already).

There Quota: “If you want to peel an apple you dont use one hand, same with 3dconnexion.”

Space Pilot Pro


VS

SpaceMouse Pro


and then you got the basic [b]

SpaceNavigator[/b]

Between the first 2, with full features like hotkeys, quick view keys, intellegent function keys, navigation setting keys, and keyboard modifiers for the Pilot, and the Mouse, which one is better? (Price is not a problem)

Also, do the functions between the first 2 really help? or should I just go for the simple space navigator?

Anyone with any info on this please help.
-source: 3D Connexion

#2

I have the simple space navigator, and have been using it for many years to navigate the viewport in Cinema4D.
First few times I used it I just couldn’t get used to it and left it aside for months. Trying again later on and realized it went more fluid after changing the settings to mirror translation and/or rotation.
It took a while to get used to but after using it for so long I just don’t know how to do without.
If money was no issue I would definitely go for one with the additional keys. This way you can keep your hand on the device and still use the shift/control/alt keys (and maybe more) without the need to switch to your keyboard. Not mandatory but I can only guess it would speed up workflow.

#3

I tried all of those over the years, the only one i stuck with for any length of time was the smalles. I never realy used any of the keys, from what i know they ar emost commonly used by CAD users. In the end i fell back to mouse only since all i really got from the devices was a fast and nice way to navigate and review, but i couldn’t use it for modelling or animating.
If you want to try, start with the cheapest and see how far it takes you.

#4

I think Bjorn pretty much mirrors my experience. I never end up using any of the keys, because lets me honest, you have an entire keyboard in front of you, limiting yourself to a dozen keys isnt an improvement over an entire keyboard. Then realise this is really just a navigation device. Is navigation such a problem that you feel it need fixing?

#5

Personally I’ve only ever used a Space Navigator for both CAD & Viz work as the higher models are prohibitively expensive and have instead adapted my tool palettes and UI where possible. I also got an MMO gaming mouse (Logitech G600) and mapped commands to the extra 12 buttons on that which still works out a lot cheaper that stepping up to a Space Pilot.

Must say though, not having my Space Navigator would be like cutting off my left hand now, the only PC periferal I can’t live without.

#6

tablet+keyboard and you have fastest experience so far.
taking of hand from navigator bunch of times just to use other shirtcuys is deal breaker… dunno about bigger ones but really never had more fluid experience then with tablet+keyboard combo

#7

Unfortunately no.

I’ve had one for years and it’s now gathering dust. When it works it’s great, but unfortunately, it’s not consistently supported across much software. They tried to get it to work with zbrush but it it was rubbish so they seemed to have given up. Maya works well, and it works in mudbox, but it feels different to how it feels in Maya. It works best in 3d coat.

So it depends which software you use, but if you work across multiple software packages then it’ll probably be frustrating, and if you use zbrush then forget it.