Yes, those are good ideas for testing. Another way to test a pencil is to try to write the same thing, whether it’s a test or a “swatch” but using different types of paper. I didn’t know this until I recently tried writing and drawing on different papers. Writing on a cheaper lined notebook paper with a pencil is actually pretty bad. By “cheap notebook” here I mean spiral notebooks with blue lines by brands like Mead, Target or any similar brand. Compared to something like regular printer paper or a regular premium journal paper the difference is remarkable. Another good test is to compare how much minimum force or weight is required to produce the faintest line is needed. I was testing many different pencils this way and saw that this a very important factor for handwriting. For some pencils you can just not apply any force except partial weight of your hand in that case you can produce more accurate handwriting. Other pencils may need slightly more minimum force and is usually the case with harder leads. It doesn’t mean that one that needs more force is “worse” but it is important because some people want more resistance between paper and graphite lead.
Just doing the same comparison. In the UK we can buy the Noris for the equivalent of $5 per dozen delivered. They are sometimes "school pencil" stamped. I think these are supplied to schools under government contract here. They only come in HB 2H and 2B. The Tradition comes in all grades.
Afaik, the Tradition is available in a wider range of lead grades than the Noris. The Noris is stuck between 2B and 2H. As such, the Tradition is more of an 'artist's' pencil than the Noris. Also, at least in Ireland, there's no real price difference between the two, but I'd probably prefer the Noris just based on its looks.
I think one thing that really disappoints me about any Staedtler pencil with an eraser is that they use a cheap looking ferrule that has no unique identity. Also my favorite Staedtler pencils is Staedtler Noris Eco B2 (says 0 zero on it too). I like that rubbery plasticky feeling and weight.
They are not identical. Your tests just didn't explore them enough. Just consider; why would Staedtler go to the trouble of manufacturing, packaging, distributing and marketing two "identical" pencils? It has to do with break resistance and how well it holds a point. Staedtler Noris is meant for heavy duty writing use in schools and offices and so is formulated to be more break and chip resistant. Noris is pretty much standard issue in UK schools and offices (wherever the equally excellent Berol Mirado hasn't staked out its turf already). Staedtler Tradition is for producing cleaner lines and shading in artwork.
Just think what you just said. If one is made stronger than the other, then the resulting texture and shade would also be different. Also, nothing on the box advertises this difference. As an artist, I am accustomed to the feel, glide, shading, hardness, softness of pencils. You are entitled to your opinion of course, as I am. Thanks for commenting.
@@RixCanDoit You won't notice it just scribbling on paper and writing for a few moments. One notices it when they're sitting down and drawing for hours on end. The Norris is more of a struggle, even hurts to use compared to Tradition.
@@Ayatron34 But yes! I will notice it by just writing on paper for a few moments. As someone who draws for hours on end, I don't need that amount of time to determine the feel and texture of the graphite. In addition, I would not consider either of those for drawing personally. If I'm going to use Staedler to draw with, then I'm going with the Lumographs. And if I'm interested in writing and have a bias for soft/dark pencils, then I'm going to judge writing pencils against that bias. 🙂
@@RixCanDoit Writing on paper for a few moments isn't asking much from either pencil or your wrist or your fingers or your brain so it doesn't surprise me you didn't feel the difference. I've been in situations when Noris was all I had left, felt awkward, couldn't get much done and then had to go really search my place to find any remaining Traditions, find one and then get some long drawing sessions in.
i used these in school all my life..now buying my childs stationery in USA, its so much more expensive than it was in cape town...but i just know its way way way better than the other crap that always needs sharpening
Mmm here in Greece 1 piece of noris with eraser i believe cost either 45 or 50 cent not more , and the dozen doesn't cost more than 5 euros . I guess I am fortunate ??
I have used the Lumograph pencils for drawing for a long time and I love them, I usually buy the 6 pack that has all the lead grades I need. I got tin case once and now I only buy in cardboard packs then put them in my tin case
Did you know that the specific thing about lumographs is the reflective quality of graphite? Hence “lumo”. Staedtler also recently release matte pencils which should have minimum reflective quality of graphite. Lumograph pencils feel very good when writing but I don’t know why anyone would want the graphite to reflect more light. Is that a desired quality for artists?
@@StopFear I actually didn't know that was the reason it's called Lumo, I just use them cause I liked them a lot, how they feel and that they're affordable where I buy them from, I honestly didn't notice the reflection properties of the graphite
May I suggest a few more tests for the pencils? Such as Drop/breakage test, sharpening test (for whether they chip easily), and eraser test.
Yes, those are good ideas for testing. Another way to test a pencil is to try to write the same thing, whether it’s a test or a “swatch” but using different types of paper. I didn’t know this until I recently tried writing and drawing on different papers. Writing on a cheaper lined notebook paper with a pencil is actually pretty bad. By “cheap notebook” here I mean spiral notebooks with blue lines by brands like Mead, Target or any similar brand. Compared to something like regular printer paper or a regular premium journal paper the difference is remarkable.
Another good test is to compare how much minimum force or weight is required to produce the faintest line is needed. I was testing many different pencils this way and saw that this a very important factor for handwriting. For some pencils you can just not apply any force except partial weight of your hand in that case you can produce more accurate handwriting. Other pencils may need slightly more minimum force and is usually the case with harder leads. It doesn’t mean that one that needs more force is “worse” but it is important because some people want more resistance between paper and graphite lead.
Just doing the same comparison. In the UK we can buy the Noris for the equivalent of $5 per dozen delivered. They are sometimes "school pencil" stamped. I think these are supplied to schools under government contract here. They only come in HB 2H and 2B. The Tradition comes in all grades.
Drawing with Norris feels like drawing with a brick after using tradition for years.
Afaik, the Tradition is available in a wider range of lead grades than the Noris. The Noris is stuck between 2B and 2H. As such, the Tradition is more of an 'artist's' pencil than the Noris. Also, at least in Ireland, there's no real price difference between the two, but I'd probably prefer the Noris just based on its looks.
That’s the only difference I ever noticed. The range of available leads. The price difference was minimal if at all.
Also in Ireland btw 👋
Mars Lumograph is the best, it's the one I use for drawing
I am the lover of noris pencils last 25 years, tradition is also good, with eraser. I use both.
I think one thing that really disappoints me about any Staedtler pencil with an eraser is that they use a cheap looking ferrule that has no unique identity. Also my favorite Staedtler pencils is Staedtler Noris Eco B2 (says 0 zero on it too). I like that rubbery plasticky feeling and weight.
They are not identical. Your tests just didn't explore them enough. Just consider; why would Staedtler go to the trouble of manufacturing, packaging, distributing and marketing two "identical" pencils? It has to do with break resistance and how well it holds a point. Staedtler Noris is meant for heavy duty writing use in schools and offices and so is formulated to be more break and chip resistant. Noris is pretty much standard issue in UK schools and offices (wherever the equally excellent Berol Mirado hasn't staked out its turf already). Staedtler Tradition is for producing cleaner lines and shading in artwork.
Just think what you just said. If one is made stronger than the other, then the resulting texture and shade would also be different. Also, nothing on the box advertises this difference. As an artist, I am accustomed to the feel, glide, shading, hardness, softness of pencils. You are entitled to your opinion of course, as I am. Thanks for commenting.
@@RixCanDoit You won't notice it just scribbling on paper and writing for a few moments. One notices it when they're sitting down and drawing for hours on end. The Norris is more of a struggle, even hurts to use compared to Tradition.
@@Ayatron34 But yes! I will notice it by just writing on paper for a few moments. As someone who draws for hours on end, I don't need that amount of time to determine the feel and texture of the graphite. In addition, I would not consider either of those for drawing personally. If I'm going to use Staedler to draw with, then I'm going with the Lumographs. And if I'm interested in writing and have a bias for soft/dark pencils, then I'm going to judge writing pencils against that bias. 🙂
@@RixCanDoit Writing on paper for a few moments isn't asking much from either pencil or your wrist or your fingers or your brain so it doesn't surprise me you didn't feel the difference. I've been in situations when Noris was all I had left, felt awkward, couldn't get much done and then had to go really search my place to find any remaining Traditions, find one and then get some long drawing sessions in.
Great video! That Norica is a new one? If not, how does a new Norica compare to the Noris and the Tradition? Thank you so much!
i used these in school all my life..now buying my childs stationery in USA, its so much more expensive than it was in cape town...but i just know its way way way better than the other crap that always needs sharpening
great!!!
I obtained one of these when I went to the UK, I loved it. How do you get it in the US?
I order everything online. Just do a search.
It's obvious that Norica is the smoothest pencil. If you compare Noris vs. Tradition, what's smoothest?
+Allan Araujo Abdisho As mentioned in the video, they are pretty much the same. Can't find any difference other than color and definitely in price.
Do you read my thinking, Rix??? I'd like to see this comparison, since I've seen the Tradition review!
Mmm here in Greece 1 piece of noris with eraser i believe cost either 45 or 50 cent not more , and the dozen doesn't cost more than 5 euros . I guess I am fortunate ??
More fortunate than some, less fortunate than others.
Dixon Ticonderoga can't be beat. Just my opinion.
Go through the grades 2b surprised ; )
I bought mine in store and they were much cheaper
Noris12
❤🎉NNMÑÑP
Ay?!
I was saying the same thing the other day. NMNNOPAQRSTU WSDGD KLLDD. But then the Bourbon wore off and I lost the ability to speak gibberish. LOL!
Noris is better than tradition
Tradition is better
@@tbhidk9521 Agree, Tradition is a better pencil.
I have used the Lumograph pencils for drawing for a long time and I love them, I usually buy the 6 pack that has all the lead grades I need. I got tin case once and now I only buy in cardboard packs then put them in my tin case
Did you know that the specific thing about lumographs is the reflective quality of graphite? Hence “lumo”. Staedtler also recently release matte pencils which should have minimum reflective quality of graphite. Lumograph pencils feel very good when writing but I don’t know why anyone would want the graphite to reflect more light. Is that a desired quality for artists?
@@StopFear I actually didn't know that was the reason it's called Lumo, I just use them cause I liked them a lot, how they feel and that they're affordable where I buy them from, I honestly didn't notice the reflection properties of the graphite
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess I really need your answer: the staedler noris is not a drawing pencil is it?
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess is the Helix Oxford (HB) better drawing pencils than the Noris?