not all inks. but some. abcdefg I know this is 1 year ago, but Teoh has a video on what's in his supply drawers. and there are so many-many fountain pens. Not sure if you will catch up to him. haha
Really interesting video! It’s because of your videos that I ordered a Duke 209 Fude. It will be my first fountain pen and I’m really looking forward to drawing with it.
I agree completely. In reviews it seems there is more trouble found with expensive pens, and the materials are often the same. I recently bought a Delike Alpha Traveller (brass) for $15 with a smooth Schmidt nib and glass converter. There are many more pleasant surprises than disappointments. I'll be giving the Duke 209 a look as well.
Great info on the Duke pen. I’m glad to know that the Duke works so well for drawing and for writing. I will have to get one now after watching this review. Thank you for the comparison.
Interesting video, as always Teoh. Pens are my passion, but the price always keeps me a little when I want a "high-end"one. On the other hand, I often get pleasure with a very cheap pen whose quality is also good. But the look, the opportunity, and the use guide me sometimes. Thank you !
I'm glad you said there're nearly no differences practically for the 2 pens because i always prefer to buy something cheap which produce a good result I think. As you spoke, there's no definite answer for the choice. aside from the similar line they can produce, the craftsmanship and the appearance of a thing you appreciate worth the money also, although it's hard to define how much it should be.
After having discovered in a storage box of mine a Sheaffer 800 "Dolphin Imperial" 1962-1964 pen of mine that I either bought or was given way back then but lost track of, I became interested again in fountain pens. About pens holding their value, I see that on eBay my pen which then cost about $8 now goes for about $60-80. I was so charmed with how well that pen writes that naturally I began cruising eBay to investigate old, fine pens. Consequently I impulse bought a Monteblanc Noblesse, which has a chip missing from the enamel, for $57. It was just a matter of the very elegant style. It does write like a charm. I have no regrets, even though I knew that inexpensive pens can work as well, but I have to now ban myself from eBay. About the nibs, gold vs. stainless steel, I have read that all of these pens have a bead of hard metal welded on the end, to make the point. Sometimes it's platinum-iridium. That would mean that the gold is irrelevant, just decorative.
I bought a fountain pen once. I lent it to my friend from another class who had forgotten to bring his pen and when I went to collect it from him during break I found him playing pen fight with it. Said it's weight really gave him an advantage. He still thinks he broke it that day (it works fine :P) and he bought me expensive pencils all week. Wth I wanted to say was Nice video! Don't lend that pen out to your friends XD
Same story, pen fight with my fountain pen. Really angered me as to how ignorant and careless they could be with such a delicate thing. Never lent pens after it
@@thecatserole245 True, but the sight of my pen being hit around and making noises from the hits and occasionally also falling down from the table really rustled my jimmies inside :/
Well, i think like in Watches, you have to appreciate the craftsmanship behind a patented 21k Gold Nib vs. a "basic" steel nib. Sailor has been producing some of the most astonishing nibs in the last decades. Also, while Steel will always remain in his shape and give you the same Writing Feeling, a Naginata-Togi Nib in Gold will adapt to your writing style with the time because of the peculiarities of the nib. The Sailor Nib will feel like something that is totally yours and that has lived througout the years with you. So there is lot of things to analyze when comparing the two pens. It's like in Watches... why do some Watches cost 5'000$ and some 50$? Because the whole process behind the making of a Manufacture Movement, the Materials that are used, how careful the Details are finished, make one watch way more valuable and complicated to create than the other. Even if at the end of the day... both are going to show the time. Thanks for this review anyhow and keep up the good work.
watches are gimmick for snobs. Atleast the top grade mechanical ones, when you do the math you end up paying 20bucks a month for a maintenance of a timepiece which is beyond pointless.
What a telling and useful comparison. The only expensive fountain pen that appeals to me is one with a cross music nib, because it looks like it does stuff that others don't. However the price is over 20 times my personal limit ($US 30).
It's hard to describe the love of pens to someone who doesn't share the same feelings. Though I have some expensive fountain pens, I do agree that there are some needlessly expensive ones out there which I wouldn't buy. I have a $5 Scrikss fountain pen which I frequently use and it performs flawlessly. Actually even better than some expensive ones. As for very expensive ones, I am very tempted to get a S.T. Dupont Murder On The Orient Express and Orient Express Prestige Fountain Pen. I'll probably never get them, but would love to have them.
@@teohyc My Duke fude pen does not reverse write. Is the Sailor better at reverse writing? That would be my reason for wanting the Sailor. Want to sell yours?
I actually just ordered a fude nib fountain pen on Amazon. But the Duke 209 is 18€ here, which is 20 US dollars. Nevertheless, I am very much looking forward to it! I watched your other video of the fude nib pens for a reference. And I as well ordered the sailor (the green one with the 55degree angle of the nib, although you didn’t like it too much, but Anne-Laure does. And that, in fact, was 7€ (8dollars) on german Amazon. A 500$ pen is definitely far off my possibilities. I also love Lamy. Great video!!! Thank you!!!
Thanks for your review. I appreciate your honesty. I will never spend so much money for a pen in my life. I have an old Lamy Safari and asked a Sailor de Mannen Fude nib fountainpen (the cheap green one) for Xmas. That's all I need for a while ;-)
I bought a Platinum 3776 with a Soft nib so I can do some simple calligraphy and it is incredibly different from the cheap flex nibs for noodlers and such. More expensive pens do improve the writing experience but it depends on what nib you pick.
I'd say that sometimes the difference is in the filling system, the quality control and the durability as well as (depending on which pens you are comparing) the nib feel. I've heard horror stories of some TWISBIs breaking by being dropped on even just carpet (though that's probably more the exception than the rule) while some slightly more expensive piston fillers (the Pelikan M200 specifically) have been taken to hell and back on occasion without breaking (actually found a very interesting review about that, if you're interested). With metal bodies this isn't as big of a problem, but I still wouldn't be quite sure about the snap-caps lasting to close-to-forever period some vintage pens have, some of mine have begun getting a bit wobbly after a few years. Filling systems, well, there aren't really any cheap ones (that aren't vintage and in need or restoration) with build in filling systems and the lower end pens may be, well, pretty bad in other aspects. Nib feel won't be an issue if you get it ground by a Nibmeister, unless we're talking about flex, but flex is mainly a thing in vintage pens anyways, though some modern ones do have a bit of it, but if you don't it can be a big difference (depending on your preferences of course).
Personally I wouldn’t pay more than 25€ for a pen especially if there is a cheap alternative like that Duke pen. I often say “Buying cheap is buying twice”, but for fountain pens I’ve found that even the cheap ones last a long time and have nice ink flow. With cameras I’ve gone the pricey route though, because in that case I will only have to replace it in about 30 years, if at all!
From my experience, writing/drawing on course paper can negate the quality of the fountain pen nib. I wonder if those two pens would have felt the same if you had written on some nice paper, such as Rhodia. The finest quality gold nib won't feel all that nice when writing on drawing paper.
Some pens are works of art and I could pay for the workmanship and dedication and the enjoyment of the beauty of the pen - like Namiki Maki-e pens - if I won the lottery!!
I have 840 pens in my collection! The cheapest are Jinhoes on the bay, I have about 15 of them! The most expensive is a Visconti @ $2,300.00 that I have yet to use in the 7 years I have owned it.......I have about 20 of the Visconti’swith prices ranging from $95.00 up to that one I listed here........the nib is the 1st thing I qualify when selecting a new pen purchase. Then I look at the overall design, & finally the material the body of the pen is made with! I like my pens, thick or thin, short or tall, heavy or lite weight. I write and adapt to them all, Basically!
Teoh Yi Chie I not only count them, I have them all on a interesting Spreadsheet,. I do this so I don’t make mistakes and. Buy the same pens multiple x’s. I created these spreadsheets myself. I also have approximately 300 bottles of Inks.And about 250 sample bottles. Now I also have inkwells that go back into early 1800’s. Then. There is My book. Library of about 50 books from repairs, which I do, to collections. My collection spreads out to even more items.
en verda he notado en las economicas hay unas que no son del todas buenas pero en su mayoria no , sobre todo para las personas que no tengan el dinero suficiente uno pude comprar varias de precios economicos y ver cuales salen buenas .
Teoh Yi Chie i think “that pen” is a pen that cannot be found in any cheaper form (non gold) or expensive (gold) ! Im a sailor fan and looking forward to buy the new cross music nib (but its expensive 🥺):p
I used to love fountain pens! Got tired of buying ink cartridges, but I remember I would do all my math homework in ink. Maybe I'll start using them again
Depending on the region different pens are cheaper than others. I would look around on ebay for second hand ones if people are looking for a first pen.
Yasmine S. when I was in school we used fountain pens and sometimes when I borrowed a fountain pen from a friend I couldn’t even get it to write properly, because we held it at different angles. But then we also used really cheap fountain pens that were meant for school kids, they were often messy and had really strange ink flow. Something like a Lamy pen was way too expensive for us and I now consider that a cheap pen.
All of my fountain pens are in the $15-$25 dollar range. A little bit nicer and longer lasting than cheap ones from the dollar store, but still cheap enough to justify spending that kind of money
Don't think I'd even consider spending $500 on a pen..... if there even was a very remote possibility of me doing so, it's gone now after watching your video :) I'm wondering though, from a sketching artist perspective there isn't much difference between the 2, would that differ from a lettering artist's perspective?
Buying an expensive pen is like buying an expensive watch. Strictly status. A Rolex tells time just as good as a Timex but, people still buy Rolex's when they want to show others how rich and fancy they are.
Thanks for this video. I have three moderately priced ($180 to $280) fountain pens (Sailor, Pilot and Edison) and three inexpensive ones and I use one or two of them every day. Regarding the feel of writing, the expensive ones are only slightly better than the cheap ones. I suspect that the expensive ones will last longer than the cheap ones. In general the cheap ones skip sometimes whereas the expensive ones almost never do. The area in which I notice a real difference is when I put the pen down for a few minutes with the cap off; for the cheap ones I have to press hard and or shake them to get them started but the better ones almost never require this. I'm happy with all of the pens--even the cheap ones are worth having.
I would not entirely agree entirely with just the feel good factor about expensive pens, there's Alot more to it, but that also depends on useage. I'm an artist as well as a fountain pen collector, Though I don't use fountain pens for drawing for me pigma microns is like endgame 😂 I've tried Alot of stuff and nothing has been worth it as much as my pigma micron is so... But thing is, with expensive fountain pens you get different filling mechanisms, you get better nibs and even gold nibs, you get different materials and overall better build and longevity but honestly it ends at around $300 or VVVVEEERRRYYYY rarely $500 you get something new, After that you are basically paying for the feel good factor and probably the brand or the luxury of it. If you are drawing it always makes sense to get a cheaper pen because fibers get stuck in the nib, we can be harsh and it's not easy to always maintain the perfect writing angle and it can Damage the pen which is why I don't use my fountain pens for drawing. I only buy fountain pens or drawing pens. If you are writing then having s gold nib is different because it feels softer to write with and also smoother
I bought a Parker Jotter Fountain pen 1983, it was expensive (not $500 but as a student in the 1980ies it was very expensive!). Having an expensive pen makes you think about it as a tool to take care of, you write with care, it is a statement that you actually care about writing, even a simple note. 35 years later, it lies on my desk now. I have written countless pages with it. I wasn't rich then, and I bought a very expensive "luxury" pen that has been a workhorse tool for 35 years. I have never bought anything more worth it. You can buy a very decent fountain pen for a few pizzas/hamburgers, under $100 you will certainly find a pen that fits your style and hand and lasts you a lifetime, but don't hesitate to spend way more if that is what gives you your feeling of luxury and gets you writing.
I bought a Duke 209 on your recommendation a year or two ago and that was my first fountain pen. I love it and have since bought about 6 more different pens but none more expensive than my $29 Lamy Safari. They all work really well for me and I use them for writing at work and for sketching. I definitely look at function more than beauty or investment.
Good review for just writing a line. But, when you write the Chinese/Japanese characters, it makes a significant different. Because of different length of bent, also a different angle. Overall, for writing either Chinese/Japanese, I still prefer to use Sailor (good stainless pen is around US$10- from them) with very good ink flow. I bought the Baoer 388, it's cost $1.95- (now gets cheaper). It depends on a budget. Unless you are looking for gold Nib, these doesn't make much different these days.
Sensible review. I am using fountain pens since 1956. I have used Swan, Black Bird, Doric, Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer and other- English and American pens available in the 50s when they were not unconscionably pricey. In the late 50s-early 60s , I used Japanese Pilot pens, which were then very affordable. In the 80s I got Cross, Mont Blanc. In the 50s and 60s, the pens were actually used ( and lost!) Pens like Cross and MB with their gold nibs are just for show. I have bought any number of local Indian pens and they have all been good writers. I have fitted some of them with 14/18 ct nibs and they are fine. To talk in $ terms is senseless for us, with the given currency conversion rates: a US $ is about 75 Rupees. So even $5 pen is not a really 'cheap' pen for most middle class people in India., especially for students. That is why Chinese pens like Jinhao, Baoer, Hero priced around $5 have become very popular in India. Now, local pen companies are coming out with good pens at comparable prices! We have very good plastic student pens with cartridge/converter for less than a $, which write very well- as well as Platinum Preppy- I have both and I know. India has been famous for hand made ebonite pens, with many local makers in many areas. These pens are very good and the basic ED model is still very affordable. These are actually premium pens, though not glamorous. Fit a Jowo , Schmidt or Bock nib- they write as well as any $500 pen. The oldest ebonite pen with me is 30 years old. I still use it. Of course there is quality , workmanship, material in costlier pens. But beyond a point, it is all show business- mere brand name and image..[ Higher price is also a reflection of the higher cost of living in the countries where they are made, and is not necessarily indicative of much superior quality.] The higher the price, the more exclusive and limited the club of owners. This may give a psychological fillip to some people, but that is all about such pens. Some Japanese pens are of exceptional beauty and workmanship and they are really collectors' items. It is good that the really rich ( or the nouveau rich) spend such vast sums on such works of art, so that the arts and artists won't suffer! For most of us what really matters is a pen that writes well, which we can carry around without fear of loss. The $5 pen meets the test. So your review is good.
Perfect. I agree 100%. If you want a pen to write with, $5 will get you some great pens. The fude nib may mask some of the Sailor's value. If you compared Ef or F the writing may be different. But certainly not 100x better. If you need cash, you could sell the Sailor for a few hundred. The Duke not so.
Challenge for Teoh...compare a $5 Duke vs. a $500 fountain pen in the areas they are most used for. Writing. Just plain writing. Let's face it...most people don't use their valuable fountain pens for any kind of sketching, especially not street sketching. I do see your point, but I think it's a little self-defeating to compare the pens in an area that a $500 Sailor would almost never be used for.
its fude nib its not meant for regular writing anyways get naginata or sth. Now the paper here is watercolour so its ultra rough and you cant feel the perfect finishing on the nib like how you would feel on smooth paper.
I have the Duke 209 and I can confirm that it is quite slippery. I think I'll sand mine too. As a note for future buyers, check the description because mine did not came with a converter. There's something strange with the fude nib: the flow is very wet, yet because of the paper texture, the lines are not perfectly straight (as we can see in the video for both pens). But I like it, it gives a lot of strength to the drawing I think
Really interesting video.. I’ve fallen in love with fountain pens and is just so amazing what is out there, to buy, and experience.. I am enjoying a LAMY Safari and pilot metro .. but when I look at these exquisite pens ( Visconti, etc) it is so tempting .. but you’re exactly right about the “ feel good” value . People ( including myself) are very seduced by that “luxurious “ feel of owning and using a more expensive fountain pen.. I’m fighting the temptation, as I just cannot justify buying such a high priced pen with my budget ... I also think that when we buy something so expensive, it sort of defeats the purpose( my purpose and personal goal) of getting out there and sketching !! I’d never use it outdoors and would think it too precious to really use it all the time .. thanks so much for all your informative and direct and honest videos.. I’ve learned so much from you , and have used your videos as guidance , when I’m deciding on a purchase ..
Gabriel Erosa not sure if you are asking me what I think of the lamy pen , or if you’re asking Teoh.. I love it .. very reasonable in price , and easy to change nibs and change inks with converter .. it feels very comfy to draw with...
I guess for performance you might as well get the cheap one. I got a $50 Parker many years ago, as a bday present, but it is not used for drawing, only for writing.
Amazing video, that really makes me want to go on amazon and get a pen with a nib like that! I have the problem that I am scared to take my expensive pens out to Uni in case I forget my pen case, my bag gets stolen while I am at the main train station etc. even tho my most expensive one is in comparison “only” 150€. I take my 40-50€ pens as well as my 5€ pens with me, my pen of choice is either the Lamy studio or a good working kaweco,and I found myself enjoying the middle-price category the most!
Heh heh, people don’t want to know the truth. I’ve always wondered and I’m very happy to know that the drawing is equal. I couldn’t afford the expensive pen and don’t like the worry of loosing it. I have a nice Louis Vuitton purse and wallet for sale for the same reason. I like my tools to work well. I don’t care for status symbols.
I have a 1.1 mm Lamy Joy calligraphy pen from Jetpens for $30, and love it. Edit: Why do people buy expensive things? They've either been brainwashed into accepting the "you get what you pay for" fallacy or they have enough money to not care how much it costs.
I like nice pens. But I'm like you: my nice pens rarely get out of the house. Even at home, I'm fearful of dropping some of them on my hard laminate floor. A decent, but lower cost pen is great because you don't have that fear of risk.
BraVO ....say it as it is my friend...........No dif [ for drawing ] only price/brand/model name. How about some writing tests...? b.d.w. you got a sub.
I'd definetely buy a PS4 rather than a 500$ fountain pen XD Though the Duke looks interesting, might add that to my wish list. Sometimes more expensive fountain pens have more flexible nibs, but I wouldn't even try to flex a 500$ one. I don't think it matters much for a fude nib anyway since you get the line variation from the angle of the nib.
Many times, it just makes people feel more important to use expensive stuff, especially if they have the money to ‘blow’ on stuff like that. It’s mostly an ego thing. I honestly don’t see the big deal over the whole gold appeal. I honestly like the look of the silver one better.
I like fountain pen they look good write good and sometimes it just feel good to be writing with one But I don't think I would ever buy such expensive pens not for myself atleast.
im in uk rn and i went to sainsbury and i bought one that is 2 pounds and it came with 5 ink thing and its a good deal i also bought more of those ink thing for 1 pound it have 10 ink bottle thing
Sounds like an advert to buy $500 worth of Duke pens. Love your channel Teoh.
What has my life turned into? I'm watching a guy review pens at 3am.
You could always watch cat videoes :)
it's 3 mins to 3 am here as well.
3:08 a.m here
Lmfao same
02.54 here lol
I think I might start a fountain pen collection
I have started using pens a lot now. Did you know pens ink are made of squid ink?
not all inks. but some. abcdefg I know this is 1 year ago, but Teoh has a video on what's in his supply drawers. and there are so many-many fountain pens. Not sure if you will catch up to him. haha
why even bother?
Of $5 pens? XD
For me, even the 5$ is expensive
Really interesting video! It’s because of your videos that I ordered a Duke 209 Fude. It will be my first fountain pen and I’m really looking forward to drawing with it.
I agree completely. In reviews it seems there is more trouble found with expensive pens, and the materials are often the same. I recently bought a Delike Alpha Traveller (brass) for $15 with a smooth Schmidt nib and glass converter. There are many more pleasant surprises than disappointments. I'll be giving the Duke 209 a look as well.
Great info on the Duke pen. I’m glad to know that the Duke works so well for drawing and for writing. I will have to get one now after watching this review. Thank you for the comparison.
Interesting video, as always Teoh. Pens are my passion, but the price always keeps me a little when I want a "high-end"one. On the other hand, I often get pleasure with a very cheap pen whose quality is also good. But the look, the opportunity, and the use guide me sometimes. Thank you !
I had a feeling they would perform the same.Thank you!
I'm glad you said there're nearly no differences practically for the 2 pens because i always prefer to buy something cheap which produce a good result I think.
As you spoke, there's no definite answer for the choice. aside from the similar line they can produce, the craftsmanship and the appearance of a thing you appreciate worth the money also, although it's hard to define how much it should be.
After having discovered in a storage box of mine a Sheaffer 800 "Dolphin Imperial" 1962-1964 pen of mine that I either bought or was given way back then but lost track of, I became interested again in fountain pens. About pens holding their value, I see that on eBay my pen which then cost about $8 now goes for about $60-80.
I was so charmed with how well that pen writes that naturally I began cruising eBay to investigate old, fine pens. Consequently I impulse bought a Monteblanc Noblesse, which has a chip missing from the enamel, for $57. It was just a matter of the very elegant style. It does write like a charm. I have no regrets, even though I knew that inexpensive pens can work as well, but I have to now ban myself from eBay.
About the nibs, gold vs. stainless steel, I have read that all of these pens have a bead of hard metal welded on the end, to make the point. Sometimes it's platinum-iridium. That would mean that the gold is irrelevant, just decorative.
I bought a fountain pen once. I lent it to my friend from another class who had forgotten to bring his pen and when I went to collect it from him during break I found him playing pen fight with it. Said it's weight really gave him an advantage. He still thinks he broke it that day (it works fine :P) and he bought me expensive pencils all week.
Wth I wanted to say was Nice video! Don't lend that pen out to your friends XD
Same story, pen fight with my fountain pen. Really angered me as to how ignorant and careless they could be with such a delicate thing. Never lent pens after it
@@Amer_S fountain pens are quite durable, they are made to last for years
@@thecatserole245 True, but the sight of my pen being hit around and making noises from the hits and occasionally also falling down from the table really rustled my jimmies inside :/
@@Amer_S Same, especially if the cap is loose.
Well, i think like in Watches, you have to appreciate the craftsmanship behind a patented 21k Gold Nib vs. a "basic" steel nib. Sailor has been producing some of the most astonishing nibs in the last decades. Also, while Steel will always remain in his shape and give you the same Writing Feeling, a Naginata-Togi Nib in Gold will adapt to your writing style with the time because of the peculiarities of the nib. The Sailor Nib will feel like something that is totally yours and that has lived througout the years with you. So there is lot of things to analyze when comparing the two pens.
It's like in Watches... why do some Watches cost 5'000$ and some 50$? Because the whole process behind the making of a Manufacture Movement, the Materials that are used, how careful the Details are finished, make one watch way more valuable and complicated to create than the other. Even if at the end of the day... both are going to show the time.
Thanks for this review anyhow and keep up the good work.
watches are gimmick for snobs. Atleast the top grade mechanical ones, when you do the math you end up paying 20bucks a month for a maintenance of a timepiece which is beyond pointless.
C- the fact that you mention 20bucks a month for the maintainance of a watch shows that you probably don’t know about mechanical watches.
@@SamuelNaldi What is there to know? .
I was looking for a fude fountain pen. I guess I just found one. Thank you!
What a telling and useful comparison.
The only expensive fountain pen that appeals to me is one with a cross music nib, because it looks like it does stuff that others don't. However the price is over 20 times my personal limit ($US 30).
The Sailor specialty nibs are even more expensive now as Sailor increased the prices by around US$150-200 in late 2018.
I told my mum i like drawing so she bought me isograph set with inks and a 14 ct gold fountain tip set, your videos are helping alot thanks
It's hard to describe the love of pens to someone who doesn't share the same feelings. Though I have some expensive fountain pens, I do agree that there are some needlessly expensive ones out there which I wouldn't buy. I have a $5 Scrikss fountain pen which I frequently use and it performs flawlessly. Actually even better than some expensive ones. As for very expensive ones, I am very tempted to get a
S.T. Dupont Murder On The Orient Express and Orient Express Prestige Fountain Pen. I'll probably never get them, but would love to have them.
I would have liked if you flipped the pen over to demonstrate how thin the lines can write also
They are thin, hairline thin. But ink flow is not as good so you have to draw slowly
@@teohyc My Duke fude pen does not reverse write. Is the Sailor better at reverse writing? That would be my reason for wanting the Sailor. Want to sell yours?
I actually just ordered a fude nib fountain pen on Amazon. But the Duke 209 is 18€ here, which is 20 US dollars. Nevertheless, I am very much looking forward to it! I watched your other video of the fude nib pens for a reference. And I as well ordered the sailor (the green one with the 55degree angle of the nib, although you didn’t like it too much, but Anne-Laure does. And that, in fact, was 7€ (8dollars) on german Amazon. A 500$ pen is definitely far off my possibilities. I also love Lamy. Great video!!! Thank you!!!
Very fair and honest account of two pens that differ in price, not function and performance.
doubt, also its not a smooth paper like bristol so the nib cant show full capability
Idk why I searched "why fountain pens are expensive"
...
There are cheap ones too. Expensive ones are due to marketing
And they look much better!
Thanks for your review. I appreciate your honesty. I will never spend so much money for a pen in my life. I have an old Lamy Safari and asked a Sailor de Mannen Fude nib fountainpen (the cheap green one) for Xmas. That's all I need for a while ;-)
Such a good video. It’s totally ok to buy both, just get what you can and start.
I bought a Platinum 3776 with a Soft nib so I can do some simple calligraphy and it is incredibly different from the cheap flex nibs for noodlers and such. More expensive pens do improve the writing experience but it depends on what nib you pick.
Bent nib isn't a problem it's a feature
~me
I'd say that sometimes the difference is in the filling system, the quality control and the durability as well as (depending on which pens you are comparing) the nib feel.
I've heard horror stories of some TWISBIs breaking by being dropped on even just carpet (though that's probably more the exception than the rule) while some slightly more expensive piston fillers (the Pelikan M200 specifically) have been taken to hell and back on occasion without breaking (actually found a very interesting review about that, if you're interested). With metal bodies this isn't as big of a problem, but I still wouldn't be quite sure about the snap-caps lasting to close-to-forever period some vintage pens have, some of mine have begun getting a bit wobbly after a few years.
Filling systems, well, there aren't really any cheap ones (that aren't vintage and in need or restoration) with build in filling systems and the lower end pens may be, well, pretty bad in other aspects.
Nib feel won't be an issue if you get it ground by a Nibmeister, unless we're talking about flex, but flex is mainly a thing in vintage pens anyways, though some modern ones do have a bit of it, but if you don't it can be a big difference (depending on your preferences of course).
Great video! I guess fountain pens are like cameras. The best one is the one you use!
Why is this 1911 so expensive, because of the fude nib? I got my 1911 Large for 1/4
Personally I wouldn’t pay more than 25€ for a pen especially if there is a cheap alternative like that Duke pen. I often say “Buying cheap is buying twice”, but for fountain pens I’ve found that even the cheap ones last a long time and have nice ink flow. With cameras I’ve gone the pricey route though, because in that case I will only have to replace it in about 30 years, if at all!
Os for The looks man! Why people buy expensive watches
Does gold nib make difference than the stainless steel ?
Until know, I never understood what fountain pens are, and why they have that tip design.
From my experience, writing/drawing on course paper can negate the quality of the fountain pen nib. I wonder if those two pens would have felt the same if you had written on some nice paper, such as Rhodia. The finest quality gold nib won't feel all that nice when writing on drawing paper.
The same with isographs ,you can even destroy the tipping that way
Great video! I have the cheap Sailor green one. Very pleased with it!
Some pens are works of art and I could pay for the workmanship and dedication and the enjoyment of the beauty of the pen - like Namiki Maki-e pens - if I won the lottery!!
I have 840 pens in my collection! The cheapest are Jinhoes on the bay, I have about 15 of them! The most expensive is a Visconti @ $2,300.00 that I have yet to use in the 7 years I have owned it.......I have about 20 of the Visconti’swith prices ranging from $95.00 up to that one I listed here........the nib is the 1st thing I qualify when selecting a new pen purchase. Then I look at the overall design, & finally the material the body of the pen is made with! I like my pens, thick or thin, short or tall, heavy or lite weight. I write and adapt to them all, Basically!
That's a lot of pens. I'm surprised you count them all
Teoh Yi Chie I not only count them, I have them all on a interesting Spreadsheet,. I do this so I don’t make mistakes and. Buy the same pens multiple x’s. I created these spreadsheets myself. I also have approximately 300 bottles of Inks.And about 250 sample bottles. Now I also have inkwells that go back into early 1800’s. Then. There is
My book. Library of about 50 books from repairs, which I do, to collections. My collection spreads out to even more items.
en verda he notado en las economicas hay unas que no son del todas buenas pero en su mayoria no , sobre todo para las personas que no tengan el dinero suficiente uno pude comprar varias de precios economicos y ver cuales salen buenas .
hi Teoh nice videos as usual ! was going to ask if you still have the sailor cross music nib ! or the cross .
I still have that pen
Teoh Yi Chie i think “that pen” is a pen that cannot be found in any cheaper form (non gold) or expensive (gold) ! Im a sailor fan and looking forward to buy the new cross music nib (but its expensive 🥺):p
I used to love fountain pens! Got tired of buying ink cartridges, but I remember I would do all my math homework in ink. Maybe I'll start using them again
Get a converter or wash and refill your empty cartridges with a syringe.
lol nobody uses cartridges in expensive fountain pens
Absolutely great video. Thank you.
Depending on the region different pens are cheaper than others. I would look around on ebay for second hand ones if people are looking for a first pen.
Yasmine S. when I was in school we used fountain pens and sometimes when I borrowed a fountain pen from a friend I couldn’t even get it to write properly, because we held it at different angles. But then we also used really cheap fountain pens that were meant for school kids, they were often messy and had really strange ink flow. Something like a Lamy pen was way too expensive for us and I now consider that a cheap pen.
saludos majo , totalmente de acuerdo la comparacion de las dos plumas ,, yo tengo de los dos tipos las economicas y las costosas , y funcionan iguales
I but in Japan a cheap one from Sailor, less than 2000 Yen and I am very satisfied.
All of my fountain pens are in the $15-$25 dollar range. A little bit nicer and longer lasting than cheap ones from the dollar store, but still cheap enough to justify spending that kind of money
I have Platinum and it is a much much more enjoyable than those cheap pens. I really like Platinum brand.
I was sad when I lost my Lamy Safari so I can't imagine losing a 500$ pen
5 dollars pen, great for comics art solutions!
Dang $500 for a pen I could buy a lot of Palomino pencils with that
Don't think I'd even consider spending $500 on a pen..... if there even was a very remote possibility of me doing so, it's gone now after watching your video :) I'm wondering though, from a sketching artist perspective there isn't much difference between the 2, would that differ from a lettering artist's perspective?
also its not a smooth paper like bristol so the nib cant show full capability
Well. Good review for the final result. But you ignored some factors including the feeling during the writing process.
Nice review, as usual. I prefer inexpensive pens, almost exclusively.
I don't like expensive tools because I feel bad if I loose them or break them. I always try to get something of a good quality for affordable price.
What's the ink you used here? Noodlers?
Noodlers
My mom got me a fountain pen for 5 dollars but it looks like the 500 dollar one...
If I could buy expensive stuff Id pay up to 50 bucks on fountain pens, same on ink maybe a bit more, but I love brushes so tbats were most would go
I have a tendency to lose them. The most I pay is $100. I use mine for writing poetry. I took art classes but can't draw anything...lol
Those lines are totally $500 worth. Great investment.
$500 can buy digital tablet you know
is like buying an expensive drawing software
T
Expensive pens won't you write better. *Sad but true.*
You just proved that you threw away 450 dollars that could have fed your family, your dog and even your neighbor.
If I'm out of money in the future, I'll sell the pen for some
I would not buy a $500 pen even if it was made of diamond. I can pay $100 for a set of watercolors, but $500 for a pen...
watercolours is a consumable ,fountain pen is not , though 500 is overpriced 150 has the same quality ,just smaller in size and simpler finishing
Never would spend $500 on a pen. I use a Piolet metropolitan. Cost $15.00.
R u British?
Singaporean
Wow
Ohh im seeing hearts in a row
Can i get heart to pls
Thank you very much!!! Its .y first time having heart
Buying an expensive pen is like buying an expensive watch. Strictly status. A Rolex tells time just as good as a Timex but, people still buy Rolex's when they want to show others how rich and fancy they are.
Clearly you dont own expensive pens, so you are not fit to judge.
Oh sure! Just after I make the step up to $75 pens.
go straight to 100+
More like expensive vs too expensive
I love that you reviewed two pens that you have used for a long time so that your comparison is genuine.
Thanks for this video.
I have three moderately priced ($180 to $280) fountain pens (Sailor, Pilot and Edison) and three inexpensive ones and I use one or two of them every day. Regarding the feel of writing, the expensive ones are only slightly better than the cheap ones. I suspect that the expensive ones will last longer than the cheap ones. In general the cheap ones skip sometimes whereas the expensive ones almost never do.
The area in which I notice a real difference is when I put the pen down for a few minutes with the cap off; for the cheap ones I have to press hard and or shake them to get them started but the better ones almost never require this.
I'm happy with all of the pens--even the cheap ones are worth having.
I would not entirely agree entirely with just the feel good factor about expensive pens, there's Alot more to it, but that also depends on useage. I'm an artist as well as a fountain pen collector, Though I don't use fountain pens for drawing for me pigma microns is like endgame 😂 I've tried Alot of stuff and nothing has been worth it as much as my pigma micron is so... But thing is, with expensive fountain pens you get different filling mechanisms, you get better nibs and even gold nibs, you get different materials and overall better build and longevity but honestly it ends at around $300 or VVVVEEERRRYYYY rarely $500 you get something new, After that you are basically paying for the feel good factor and probably the brand or the luxury of it. If you are drawing it always makes sense to get a cheaper pen because fibers get stuck in the nib, we can be harsh and it's not easy to always maintain the perfect writing angle and it can Damage the pen which is why I don't use my fountain pens for drawing. I only buy fountain pens or drawing pens. If you are writing then having s gold nib is different because it feels softer to write with and also smoother
Take the 495 dollars saved and buy paper, ink, paints, brushes and books, then take a homeless person to lunch all week long with the rest.
I bought a Parker Jotter Fountain pen 1983, it was expensive (not $500 but as a student in the 1980ies it was very expensive!). Having an expensive pen makes you think about it as a tool to take care of, you write with care, it is a statement that you actually care about writing, even a simple note. 35 years later, it lies on my desk now. I have written countless pages with it. I wasn't rich then, and I bought a very expensive "luxury" pen that has been a workhorse tool for 35 years. I have never bought anything more worth it.
You can buy a very decent fountain pen for a few pizzas/hamburgers, under $100 you will certainly find a pen that fits your style and hand and lasts you a lifetime, but don't hesitate to spend way more if that is what gives you your feeling of luxury and gets you writing.
I bought a Duke 209 on your recommendation a year or two ago and that was my first fountain pen. I love it and have since bought about 6 more different pens but none more expensive than my $29 Lamy Safari. They all work really well for me and I use them for writing at work and for sketching. I definitely look at function more than beauty or investment.
Good review for just writing a line. But, when you write the Chinese/Japanese characters, it makes a significant different. Because of different length of bent, also a different angle. Overall, for writing either Chinese/Japanese, I still prefer to use Sailor (good stainless pen is around US$10- from them) with very good ink flow. I bought the Baoer 388, it's cost $1.95- (now gets cheaper). It depends on a budget. Unless you are looking for gold Nib, these doesn't make much different these days.
forget the 500$ even the 5$ is very expensive for me ...
Sensible review. I am using fountain pens since 1956. I have used Swan, Black Bird, Doric, Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer and other- English and American pens available in the 50s when they were not unconscionably pricey. In the late 50s-early 60s , I used Japanese Pilot pens, which were then very affordable. In the 80s I got Cross, Mont Blanc. In the 50s and 60s, the pens were actually used ( and lost!) Pens like Cross and MB with their gold nibs are just for show.
I have bought any number of local Indian pens and they have all been good writers. I have fitted some of them with 14/18 ct nibs and they are fine.
To talk in $ terms is senseless for us, with the given currency conversion rates: a US $ is about 75 Rupees. So even $5 pen is not a really 'cheap' pen for most middle class people in India., especially for students. That is why Chinese pens like Jinhao, Baoer, Hero priced around $5 have become very popular in India. Now, local pen companies are coming out with good pens at comparable prices! We have very good plastic student pens with cartridge/converter for less than a $, which write very well- as well as Platinum Preppy- I have both and I know.
India has been famous for hand made ebonite pens, with many local makers in many areas. These pens are very good and the basic ED model is still very affordable. These are actually premium pens, though not glamorous. Fit a Jowo , Schmidt or Bock nib- they write as well as any $500 pen. The oldest ebonite pen with me is 30 years old. I still use it.
Of course there is quality , workmanship, material in costlier pens. But beyond a point, it is all show business- mere brand name and image..[ Higher price is also a reflection of the higher cost of living in the countries where they are made, and is not necessarily indicative of much superior quality.] The higher the price, the more exclusive and limited the club of owners. This may give a psychological fillip to some people, but that is all about such pens. Some Japanese pens are of exceptional beauty and workmanship and they are really collectors' items. It is good that the really rich ( or the nouveau rich) spend such vast sums on such works of art, so that the arts and artists won't suffer!
For most of us what really matters is a pen that writes well, which we can carry around without fear of loss. The $5 pen meets the test. So your review is good.
Try Parker pens. I’ve got some and they’re well nice 👍
Perfect. I agree 100%. If you want a pen to write with, $5 will get you some great pens. The fude nib may mask some of the Sailor's value. If you compared Ef or F the writing may be different. But certainly not 100x better. If you need cash, you could sell the Sailor for a few hundred. The Duke not so.
On the other hand, unless you were given them as a gift, you would have had a few hundred $ more in your pocket with the Duke...
The only way I may spend a lot on a pen, is after winning the mega millions lottery.
Challenge for Teoh...compare a $5 Duke vs. a $500 fountain pen in the areas they are most used for. Writing. Just plain writing. Let's face it...most people don't use their valuable fountain pens for any kind of sketching, especially not street sketching. I do see your point, but I think it's a little self-defeating to compare the pens in an area that a $500 Sailor would almost never be used for.
its fude nib its not meant for regular writing anyways get naginata or sth. Now the paper here is watercolour so its ultra rough and you cant feel the perfect finishing on the nib like how you would feel on smooth paper.
I have the Duke 209 and I can confirm that it is quite slippery. I think I'll sand mine too. As a note for future buyers, check the description because mine did not came with a converter. There's something strange with the fude nib: the flow is very wet, yet because of the paper texture, the lines are not perfectly straight (as we can see in the video for both pens). But I like it, it gives a lot of strength to the drawing I think
A friend of mine let me use his Duke 209 in black and I found it a joy to write with and the barrel was not slippery at all.
Really interesting video.. I’ve fallen in love with fountain pens and is just so amazing what is out there, to buy, and experience.. I am enjoying a LAMY Safari and pilot metro .. but when I look at these exquisite pens ( Visconti, etc) it is so tempting .. but you’re exactly right about the “ feel good” value . People ( including myself) are very seduced by that “luxurious “ feel of owning and using a more expensive fountain pen.. I’m fighting the temptation, as I just cannot justify buying such a high priced pen with my budget ... I also think that when we buy something so expensive, it sort of defeats the purpose( my purpose and personal goal) of getting out there and sketching !! I’d never use it outdoors and would think it too precious to really use it all the time ..
thanks so much for all your informative and direct and honest videos.. I’ve learned so much from you , and have used your videos as guidance , when I’m deciding on a purchase ..
After owning these expensive pens, I realised I prefer cheaper or more moderately priced pens. After all, it's just a pen.
Yes, Lamy pens aren't the cheapest ones neither the most expensives, what do you think about them?
Thanks for your instructive video!
Gabriel Erosa not sure if you are asking me what I think of the lamy pen , or if you’re asking Teoh..
I love it .. very reasonable in price , and easy to change nibs and change inks with converter .. it feels very comfy to draw with...
Teoh Yi Chie I agree... :-)
mine was like a dollar
I guess for performance you might as well get the cheap one. I got a $50 Parker many years ago, as a bday present, but it is not used for drawing, only for writing.
Amazing video, that really makes me want to go on amazon and get a pen with a nib like that! I have the problem that I am scared to take my expensive pens out to Uni in case I forget my pen case, my bag gets stolen while I am at the main train station etc. even tho my most expensive one is in comparison “only” 150€. I take my 40-50€ pens as well as my 5€ pens with me, my pen of choice is either the Lamy studio or a good working kaweco,and I found myself enjoying the middle-price category the most!
Heh heh, people don’t want to know the truth. I’ve always wondered and I’m very happy to know that the drawing is equal. I couldn’t afford the expensive pen and don’t like the worry of loosing it. I have a nice Louis Vuitton purse and wallet for sale for the same reason. I like my tools to work well. I don’t care for status symbols.
I have a 1.1 mm Lamy Joy calligraphy pen from Jetpens for $30, and love it. Edit: Why do people buy expensive things? They've either been brainwashed into accepting the "you get what you pay for" fallacy or they have enough money to not care how much it costs.
Thanks so much for this video. I am switching from ballpoint to fountain pen and have been very confused about what to buy. THANKS!!!
I got the same Duke pen as you!
I've bought my fountain pen for about 2$ and it works fine for me
I like nice pens. But I'm like you: my nice pens rarely get out of the house. Even at home, I'm fearful of dropping some of them on my hard laminate floor. A decent, but lower cost pen is great because you don't have that fear of risk.
@Йцукен Фывович That is a good point. Gold is a bit more forgiving. Of course, as you say, they are not often damaged.
The sketch is great i like it somuch
BraVO ....say it as it is my friend...........No dif [ for drawing ] only price/brand/model name. How about some writing tests...? b.d.w. you got a sub.
I'd definetely buy a PS4 rather than a 500$ fountain pen XD Though the Duke looks interesting, might add that to my wish list. Sometimes more expensive fountain pens have more flexible nibs, but I wouldn't even try to flex a 500$ one. I don't think it matters much for a fude nib anyway since you get the line variation from the angle of the nib.
Many times, it just makes people feel more important to use expensive stuff, especially if they have the money to ‘blow’ on stuff like that. It’s mostly an ego thing.
I honestly don’t see the big deal over the whole gold appeal. I honestly like the look of the silver one better.
I like fountain pen they look good write good and sometimes it just feel good to be writing with one
But I don't think I would ever buy such expensive pens not for myself atleast.
I would buy the cheap one. They have about the same line quality and like you said, I would not have to worry about losing, or dropping it.
im in uk rn and i went to sainsbury and i bought one that is 2 pounds and it came with 5 ink thing and its a good deal i also bought more of those ink thing for 1 pound it have 10 ink bottle thing