This is the CAMMUS C5, the newest player in the direct-drive market geared towards entry-level sim racers with a price of under 24,934.79 INR. Scheduled to release this summer, it promises to be a game changer in the entry-level sim racing market so today I’ll be telling you all my thoughts on it, Whether I think the CAMMUS C5 is worth all the hype.
CAMMUS C5 Direct Drive Steering Wheel
Direct-drive steering wheel prices just keep coming down as new competitors enter the market. Cammus is one of the latest entrants to the direct drive market with their C5 wheel. At just 20,695.26 INR for the wheel, it’s now the cheapest direct-drive wheel you can get on the market. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to buy a desk clamp for the wheel separately if you aren’t mounting it into a cockpit.
The desk mount will run you about 2,410.36 INR. The desk mount does offer adjusting the angle and includes an area to mount the cooling fan that comes with the Cammus C5. If you don’t already have a set of pedals, you’ll have to buy those as well for 4,155.80 INR. Overall, the full kit will run you 27,262.03 INR, which is an extremely competitive price in comparison to Logitech, Fanatec and Moza’s offerings.
Cammus’ C5 wheel provides 5nm of torque, which is awesome for a first time direct drive steering wheel. What’s odd about the direct drive design is that the direct drive motor is built into the steering wheel.
Traditional direct drive wheels use a motor wheel base and the steering wheel attaches to it. This isn’t the case with the Cammus C5. Keep this in mind, because where you might upgrade your wheel or wheelbase later on with a traditional direct drive, you won’t be able to swap out other wheelbases or wheels at the moment. Reviewers speculate that Cammus may later release upgrades to the motor or wheel since they appear to be separate components.
The Cammus C5 features a leather-like wheel cover and a beautiful stitching. The front of the wheel has a sleek carbon-fiber design, which probably isn’t real but still looks high-quality. The buttons are snappy, with little squish and play in them. The wheel is D-Shaped rather than completely round, which could be a downside if you’re primarily into sim drifting. The Cammus C5 wheel measures 280mm in diameter. There are 20 push buttons on the wheel that you can map in-game to whatever you need. The Cammus C5 also has 3 rotary encoders on the wheel which feel high-quality and firm. The wheel face also has a 3-digit crisp numeric display and a 10-LED RPM indicator.
The paddle shifters on the Cammus C5 are a bit tiny and awkward to reach, but they are solid and manageable.
The core assembly of the motor is built in to the wheel with a bracket mounted to it and the wheel houses it. This is a really unique design which makes for a small form factor. The motor on the back of the wheel has connectors for the included power supply, a USB-A connector, two USB-C ports and a power connector for the included cooling fan. The power supply puts out 19V at 7.36 amps. Reviewers report the Cammus C5 wheel as being very quiet, especially in comparison to belt-driven or gear-driven wheels.
Reviewers praise the Cammus C5 for it’s sharp and precise force feedback. The wheel whips back into place quickly after turns, which makes drifting feel intuitive and realistic. The force feedback stands up well against Moza’s R5 and the CSL DD 5nm wheel.
Cammus C5 Pedals
The Cammus C5 pedals run about 4,155.68 INR and they’re really basic. They should be the first thing you upgrade in this kit. They include a throttle and brake with no clutch pedal and no option to upgrade. The pedals have a hall effect sensor to relay the position of the pedal. These pedals have no pressure to push back, so keep that in mind. The pedals include a USB-A connector to hook up to your PC. Reviewers compare the feel of the Cammus pedals to the SRP-lite pedalset from Moza. The pedal set is really nothing to write home about, but that’s to be expected for the 4,155.68 INR pricepoint.
Cammus C5 Software
Cammus offers mobile software for your phone to adjust the wheel settings without using the PC software. The PC software shows the wheel and base as separate components, which reviewers speculate could be a clue that Cammus may offer upgrades for the base or wheel later on.
We are already familiar with the Cammus software from our Cammus GT1 DD Bundle review. However, we first install the latest version downloaded from the Cammus website. Once installed, the program retains its sleek and user-friendly appearance. Upon startup and turning on the Cammus C5, it is immediately recognized as both a wheelbase and a steering wheel.
Through the “Parameter” tab, we can configure the Direct Drive wheelbase of the steering wheel. Three additional tabs appear in the middle of the screen: Base Settings, Game Effects, and Assistance. We start with the Base Settings.
Here, we can initially center the steering wheel, which turns out to be unnecessary as the steering wheel is nicely centered out of the box. Additionally, we can adjust the rotation of the steering wheel, with preset buttons available for commonly used settings like 360 and 1080 degrees. Below, we find the basic settings for the Direct Drive motor, allowing us to adjust the force and settings such as damping and friction on the steering wheel.
An ‘i’ icon is present next to each effect to provide more information about the setting, although we find this information to be somewhat concise for beginners in sim racing. On the Game Effects tab, we encounter settings to customize or filter effects from the game.
While there are sufficient options to configure the Direct Drive motor, we are accustomed to having a bit more choices to fine-tune details, filtering, and damping according to preferences. Finally, there is the option to save, load, import, and export presets.
The Assistance tab is new to us in this version of the software. Here, we initially find the option to invert force feedback. This may be necessary for games that send the force feedback signal in reverse, requiring steering against the wheel to keep it centered, for example.
Additionally, there is the built-in “Hands-off protection,” a feature we have appreciated in other wheelbases before. It recognizes whether the steering wheel is being held or not, disabling force feedback when it is not being held to prevent it from uncontrollably spinning.
We can now also adjust the hardness of the steering wheel’s end stop, and there is an option called “High-speed stability assist,” which acts as a form of dynamic damping of the feedback depending on the speed you are driving. Finally, Cammus has incorporated “Overheat protection,” reducing the output of the wheelbase in case of overheating, with the threshold value being adjustable.
On the “Devices” tab, we can examine the steering wheel itself. Two tabs appear in the middle of the screen: Steering Wheel and Dashboard. Let’s start with Steering Wheel. Here, we can once again adjust the steering angle, which appears somewhat redundant. The value we modify here is instantly reflected on the “Parameter” tab as well. The same applies to centering the steering wheel. Additionally, we can check the functionality of all buttons and inputs here, both in the list of numbers in the middle of the screen and through the visualization in the bottom right corner.
On the “Dashboard” tab, we have a few additional features. We can adjust the brightness of the display and choose whether to display speed in kilometers or miles per hour, or the gear we are in. Additionally, we can customize the colors of the RPM LEDs, with a few preset color patterns available. Finally, for each rotary encoder, we can decide whether it functions as a rotary switch with 12 positions or as a directional encoder, registering only whether it is turned left or right.
Cammus has made considerable strides in further developing their software compared to our Cammus GT1 DD review some time ago. Although the software may not be as in-depth as that of other wheelbases, we believe the features will be more than sufficient for the target audience of the Cammus C5.
Cammus C5’s Cheaper Alternative
For the price point, the Cammus C5 is leagues ahead of belt and gear-driven wheels like the G920 or G923. However, it does only support PC, so console racers are out of luck with the C5. The pedals are not great, but workable. With wheel bases like Moza offers, there’s an upgrade path for a different wheelbase if you decide you’d like more nm of torque. You won’t be able to do so with the Cammus C5. If that’s not a problem for you, the Cammus C5 punches above it’s weight in price performance. Overall, we recommend the Cammus C5 wheel as a buy.
Cheapest Alternative Ant Esports GW180 Corsa Racing Wheel & Pedal Set Rs. Rs. 6,699.00
FEATURES
- Immersive Racing Experience: The Ant Esports GW180 Corsa Racing Wheel offers an immersive racing experience with its 270-degree lock-to-lock rotation, allowing you to feel the realistic precision of driving. This feature enhances the feel of every turn and twist on the track, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced racers.
- Ergonomic Design: The racing wheel is designed with ergonomics in mind, ensuring a comfortable and natural grip during extended gaming sessions. The two pedal shifters are conveniently located, giving you quick and easy access to gear shifts, further enhancing the realism of your racing experience.
- Customizable Controls: With a D-Pad and eleven customizable buttons, the Ant Esports GW180 Corsa Racing Wheel gives you the freedom to tailor the controls to your preferences. Whether you prefer to assign specific functions or fine-tune your racing setup, this feature ensures that the wheel adapts to your unique style.
- Sturdy and Responsive Pedals: The set includes two pedals, one for braking and the other for acceleration. These pedals are built to be sturdy and responsive, providing precise control over your vehicle’s speed and braking. This ensures that you can brake and accelerate with the right amount of force for optimal performance on the track.
Experience the thrill of high-speed racing like never before with the GW180 Corsa Racing Wheel and Pedal Set. This impressive racing wheel is your ticket to a truly immersive driving experience.
Equipped with a D-Pad and eleven customizable buttons, it puts control at your fingertips, allowing you to fine-tune your racing performance. The ergonomically placed pedal shifters provide a realistic feel as you shift through the gears, while the 270-degree lock-to-lock turning capability ensures precise handling.
The robust pedals, with one dedicated to braking and the other for acceleration, offer a firm and responsive touch. With compatibility across Windows, PlayStation, and Xbox, the Ant Esports GW180 Corsa Racing Wheel is your key to conquering the virtual racing world on your preferred platform. Get ready to take your racing skills to the next level with this exceptional racing wheel and pedal set.
Conclusion
Here is the Cammus C5 steering wheel, a sim racing gadget that provides an immersive gaming experience. We have also seen a more affordable alternative from Ant Sports. These gaming steering wheels are definitely worth trying out. You can choose one based on your budget.
