The thickness of the Curidas actually makes it more comfortable than the VP for me. The Dialog 3 is also thick, but it's also heavy enough to use as a projectile, so that detracts from the comfort.
This was the best review and comparison of these pens I have seen so far! Thank you for being thorough and honestly opinionated! Excellent points made and to be considered about all 3 and I think you pretty much nailed it all.
I just chanced upon your channel because I’m keen on getting a Curidas, and been watching several reviews. I’m glad I did because this was such a quality, fun, helpful review all around. Thanks for that! I have a pair of VPs and one Dialog 3. All are extremely dependable, handy, superb writers. Mine are in M and B nibs. The VP’s 18k is sublime. I rarely use F, and have only one EF in a collection of nearly 80 pens. Broads are my mainstay. The Curidas is clearly a mixed bag of the good and the bad. But overall, I think it’s rather cool in its own right and the price is maybe just alright. Once I get the pen, I’ll know for sure. 🙂 I find the Dialog 3 to be clearly the best of the trio - excepting the price. It is, arguably, very overpriced at over $300. I have pens in that price range that I think are better and I like much more. Unlike many other users, though, I prefer the twist to open feature of the Dialog 3 more than the click-push open mechanism in other capless pens, as the VP and Curidas. This is one reason why I like the Pilot Fermo more than the VP. Amyway, I think comparison videos are generally a lot of fun to watch. Do more of them.
My fine-nib VP comes with me for every pharmacy shift and works wonderfully. Really makes my day a little bit more fun every time I use it to mark a bottle or write a phone script. I just recently ordered a medium nib dialog (palladium color) to be my "desk pen" that stays at home, and I am very excited to try it out! Edit: I agree with the sadness that the VP scratches up its own clicky-bit
Nice review. I like these comparative reviews. I agree that these pens are not on the cutting edge of fashion but they all feature function over fashion. In the right setting all of these pens outshine screw or pop cap pens. If you want a sleeker and bit more fashionable design you could mention the Pilot Decimo, which is the Vanishing Points little sister, or brother if you prefer. It’s thinner and has some better fashion elements while still using the same changeable nib units that the Vanishing Point uses. Also, on May 20, 2020 a Pilot released the Vanishing Point LS which features the combination of the up and down clicker with the twisting mechanism of the original Vanishing Point.
I love the idea of retractable pens, and the Decimo is what I use mostly at work. The Decimo is much prettier than the VP. When I first bought it, I got a defective fine nib. I replaced the nib. I’ve replaced the nib 4x now, because I’ve dropped the pen so many times and sometimes it hits the floor nib first. All the replacement nibs have written perfectly, very very smooth. The pen itself is starting to look pretty beat up, but using it at work, I’m not really all that careful with it. It goes in and out of my pockets and bag, tossed around on countertops, dropped on hard tile or cement floors, etc….but I’d say that after almost two years, it looks pretty decent. I am considering getting a medium or broad. I’d love to try the Platinum pen…but damn, it’s so ugly. I’d think I’d rather get the steel nib Pilot Capless.
Thanks for ur review. As Chinese, I may prefer Japanese pens more cuz they were designed better to write Japanese characters as well as Chinese. I love the appearance of Lamy, sadly the writing experience is just acceptable. I haven't tried the one Lamy designed for Chinese users yet, hope it will change my perception.
All three a bit thick for comfortable use for me - I have a Decimo, the more slender version of the Pilot. The nib, a medium, is wet and deliciously smooth - incomparably better than anything else in my collection, and that includes a vintage Montblanc.
Well done comparison. I own the steel nib Pilot Capless, and I do find scratch markers on the knock button. That being said, my takeaway from this video is that the Curidas is over engineered and underbuilt, the Dialog 3 is over engineered she overbuilt, and the Capless is sort of a good medium between the two. I was not a fan of the fine nib, however. I’d say that medium or broad on the Capless would be better. I’m a Pilot fanboy, but I love the F nib on my Preppy, which is in between a Pilot F and M nib in terms of width, so if the Curidas is anything like this, then I won’t rule out getting one.
I have both a Namiki Vanishing Point and I like the design much better. I think there was a loss in design funding when it moved from the luxury Namiki line to the more work oriented Pilot line.
Sounds like I really gotta try the Curidas, it looks like a fun pen to have! I have both VP decimo and VP Fermo, and I love Fermo for its good look and silent mechanism. The decimo is so tiny and handy so I use it at work with Platinum Cassis Black. Can’t stand the thick lines Lamy puts down, and for that price point I’d rather get a capped 3776 Celluloid that sits pretty on a desk. Japanese brands are the way to go for me, just because I like fine lines too much lol! Thank you for the detailed comparison, I thoroughly enjoyed the video!
There's something to be said for posting only when you have something to say. Congrats! A great comparison to reassure me that I chose the correct capless fountain pen. Why should pens have caps at all? This limits the size of my pen collection considerably going forward.
so an update from my earlier post. I had a freak accident with my original FP nib that made me have to buy a replacement gold fine--I now agree with your statement about inconsistency. The nib tines came out of the box being slightly misaligned and very dry writing compared to the last one. I've been tinkering with it ever since to get it to a place where I want it to be, which has been educational, but admittedly annoying. My original dialog had a factory defect in the mechanism that made me have to return it, but my new one does not have that issue. The dialog eventually DID require a slight repair because, by normal use, the clip got bent ever so slightly and the "sinking" end of the nib became extended out of the body in such a way that it could wobble back and forth and prevent the extension mechanism from working properly if I didn't carefully make sure the clip was properly aligned ahead of time. If I were just using it as a desk pen, this wouldn't be as much of an issue, but I've also been using my Dialog during my pharmacy work days and this extra step became a significant problem. I fixed the issue by sliding a zip-tie under the clip and hand-bending the clip back down so that the function now works as intended again. Once more, not a deal-breaker, but it was very distressing before I figured out how to fix it given my expectations for the pen due to its price point. Finally, I've recently acquired a fine-nib curidas and am surprisingly satisfied with it as a pen for use at work. The nib works well enough, if being a bit thin and scratchy for my liking, but after the initial break-in period, I've been thoroughly impressed with the performance and the added durability of the steel nib is somewhat nice after having my original VP nib incident. All three pens aren't without their own issues, but I feel all 3 are equally valid in their own way. I still prefer the VP for having a sweet-spot of satisfying writing feeling, classy appearance, ease of deployment, and being lightweight enough to not make my pharmacy smock pocket sag too terribly. It is just impressive enough to become a conversation piece with interested patients, but not so gaudy that it comes off as bragging. The Dialog, being a medium nib, provides the smoothest writing experience, and the larger nib definitely makes me smile more when I use it just for its extra bit of flash, but the deploy mechanism does add a few seconds to every time I need to use it, and I definitely have to go the reverse-writing route when making marks on very ink resistant pharmacy vial label paper; also, I have to admit that the hefty weight does cause pocket sag and makes me more nervous about it slipping out when I have to bend over. Finally, the curidas is much less elegant looking, which makes me a little sad, but its performance is actually quite nice given its cheaper price point, and the durability of the steel nib makes me less nervous when I have to momentarily lend it to a coworker.
For me the Namiki Raden versions of the Capless looked the best, even though the shape is the same as the regular Pilot Capless, that deep translucent black urushi finish and the Raden stripes are just stunning. I have both the Namiki and Dialog 3 (palladium), I find my self EDC the Namiki a lot more.
I love the newer CC In the dark blue. But I have heard that the nib dries out fairly quickly- as with all of the Lamy selections. I tend to have many pens inked at one time and my pilots platinum’s and other pens even my vanishing point manages to stay wet and write first time every time - almost. What is the deal with the CC?
I A-dore my Curidas EF! Usually, all the EFs I tried always had too much feedback for me. But the Curidas? It glides effortlessly on the paper and is pretty wet for such a thin line! Sure, it’s got juuuust a little tooth when you write fast, but for the most part it’s very smooth! I also don’t really mind the big button, since my fingers are very long and to open my click-action pens, I just… Slam the button on my desk anyway lmao. Nib is awesome, click-action is convenient, size dosen’t bother me, so what’s wrong with mine? The trap. The SMELLY DINGUS trap. First of all, it does not seal. Like at all. I leave it closed for an hour and the pen already rough starts. Like what’s the point of that complicated trap, with the weird hole that you mentionned, just for it to act like it isn’t even there? It drives me nuts, but that’s not even the worst part After just a few days of using it daily at work, I looked at the inside of the little trap and I found a super thin line of… *green ink* that *traversed the trap from top to bottom* It rubs The nib. Friggin’ rubs. So not only does it not seals, it touches the nib when closing, potentially wearing out the tipping material (haven’t had any issues so far) but most of all… Spreading ink all over the nib unit housing inside of the pen! When the nib comes out, the trap rubs against the base of the nib unit (which is normal the nib unit’s gotta get pushed for the nib to be exposed), but with that eenie tiny line, the black plastic picks up the ink from the thin line and, when the nib retracts, *gushes it all over the inner barrel!* And while it does that, the eenie tiny line gets a new supply of ink by touching the retracting nib full of fresh ink! And the cycle repeat until the inner housing is so full of ink that it starts to dry *in* the pen and *borderline gluing the nib unit to the housing, even preventing the button from clicking.* Don’t. Ask. Me. How. I. Know. So every once in a while I have to pass a wet cotton swap through the pen and remove all the dried ink, and trust me it ain’t pretty. All of that because of one tiny dysfunctionnal seal that fails as a seal and as a nib protector! So… Yah, best Extra-Fine I’ve ever tried so far, I don’t mind most of it’s flaws but that door alone prevents me from using it as often as it deserves.
I’ve used the vanishing point for 10+ years. EF nib. I find a more vertical pose is best. I also used the Falcon 2. Which is better with a flatter pose
I don't know why Curidas gets hate from the audience. Platinum curidas is a masterpiece of engineering to see, an art, and sometimes art can be ugly for some people but it's way better in looks than Pilot vanishing point. Pilot vanishing point is the definition of "Ugliness". If I had to spend 400 dollars, then I would probably go for a new experience such as Pilot Falcon, maybe Dialog 3 later. Obviously, Mont Blanc 149 is always in everyone's bucket list.
I'm not sure if they're still making them, but the Pilot Fermo has a twist mechanism like the Dialog 3. Very smooth and silent action, and the shape and look of the pen is more elegant than the VP. Way too backweighted though, unfortunately.
I have all three and hands-down my vote goes to the VP. I have huge hands and thought I’d love the Lamy because it’s bigger but I think it’s almost too big. I prefer Japanese nibs and their fine-ness so I knew I wouldn’t prefer the Dialog’s nib but to my surprise I did like it. Though, honestly, a juicy, broader nib will do a lot to help the smoothness. Strangely enough, my EF and F on the VP are still my smoothest nibs of the three.
Yes!! Olive Boy is back!! Thanks for the comparison video. Lots of great information. Really dig the engineering. Don't think a Capless pen is in my future though, trying to write with my fingers over a clip or bumps and knobs would truly drive me mad!
I have two of the curidas is medium and fine and now seeing yours, I’d like to get the extra fine. I have the pilot vanishing point also but not the dialog as that’s way out of my price range.
There’s a Chinese copy of the Dialog 3 that you can get off aliexpress for around $35. The twist mechanism is a little stiff but it’s a great pen for the price. I also have a Pilot VP but it’s the Lamy knockoff that I take everywhere since it has the convenience of a retractable nib without posing the risk that if I drop it I’ll have ruined a $150 pen.
@@meshzzizk sounds interesting. I’ve never bought anything from aliexpress because it usually takes a month for items to arrive, but it may be worth it to try this pen;)
Re the Pilot Vanishing Point, consider yourself flamed . I own a Curidas and several Vanishing Points. I’m interested in these points from a technical standpoint. Even though the Boston Safety Pen has a cap, once you remove the cap, it has a similar twist movement to get the nib out. I certainly intend to get a Dialogue. The comparison setup is a useful one.
Why not? I’ve never used one but I’ve been considering buying one for a friend - it’s otherwise the same pen as the gold nibbed version (which I have) and I’ve found Pilot’s other steel nibs are very good.
@@meshzzizk I actually liked the medium steel nib on my special alloy nib capless more than the 18k gold one... but that's just personal preference! It's up to you if the price is worth it.
Funnily enough to I was just thinking that I wish the steel version was more easily available, it's not available at all in the UK as far as I have found. With a nib of its size on a pen of this type having a gold nib really does nothing more than push up the cost, and apart from the click mechanism the VP really has nothing much else going for it so the price of the gold nib version for me is more than I am willing to pay for the pen.
I’m a fan of the vanishing point, if you switch out it’s converter for a bladder converter (same as the metropolitan) it’s better. Aesthetically I think the vanishing point is the prettiest, it’s simple but elegant. You call the platinum the prettiest but it’s like a cigar with a pocket clip and looks uncomfortable
Thanks, Olive Boy, for a great video. Was very useful for me, and it was fun to watch too. I'm quite curious if the cap seal of the revolving-type (twist-type) Pilot Fermo is as good as the 'normal' Vanishing Points. I'm always worried about the nib drying up. Any idea? Again, thank you for a great video!
The Lamy is clearly the best out of the three in my opinion, but there is no way it can beat the Lamy 2000 on any front and it is more expensive than I would be willing to pay for it. I got my Lamy 2000 for 70% of the original price from Cult Pens and it easily gets my vote for the GOAT pen and I find it just as fast to uncap as any click pen is maybe with the exception of a Tactile Turn bolt-action rollerball. I would love to see a bolt action fountain pen but until then I think I'll stay with capped pens.
The 2000 is pretty much unmatched in terms of a user pen, the dialog (for me) is a cooler object that happens to also be a pen. A bolt action pen would be great!
@@oliveboypens Despite its higher price tag I would say that the Lamy 2000 is indeed one of the best value for money pens and almost without a doubt the best value for money pen which isn't from China or Taiwan or Noodler's I guess. The effort and though put into the design and the precision and skill put into executing it is truly exceptional. The has a good gold nib, high built quality with tight tollerances, a machined spring clip, high quality nice feeling GPRPC material, a very good piston filling system and the best capping mechanism of any pen of any price, it just feels so nice to cap! And the Bauhaus inspired design is really cool, especially for a product design student such as myself. If you look at the engraved Lamy on the clip you will see how it aligns with the length of the pen when down and aligns with the curvature of the barrel when elevated and thats detail! Every spect of the pen is thought through to function as well as possible. You are very lucky to own the blue limited edition version too! Just recently found your videos, great job, you've got a subscriber!
you prolly dont care but if you are bored like me atm you can watch pretty much all the latest movies on Instaflixxer. I've been binge watching with my gf lately :)
Thanks very much for the video. It was very informative. But there are other contenders from China. Namely Majohn which has copied to a point of interchangability. I must say that the Lamy would be the one for me. Thanks again.
I just purchased a Decimo M point. Find the nib to write more like broad point and very wet. How do the newer pilot vanishing points differ from the vintage Namiki Capless?
I’d love to know which one of these you consider to be the most comfortable, in terms of a daily writer. I own a VP and am interested how the grip and fell compares when writing.
You addressed several things I never got into specifically the size and weight. This was a great video! And you showed the Curidas better than I did. I enjoyed this. These are the "big three" of the capless world. For me, the Lamy ended up on top as well, but it's a personal preference. I'm also curious if you saw any cracking in the feed on your Curidas?
WaskiSquirrel Thanks!! I appreciate it!! Luckily I have not seen any feed cracking on my curidas, though the clip tab did sustain some damage when I removed the clip. I’m hoping my good luck lasts.
They are all equally mediocre, but I have some non Capless pens that dry out as quickly as these. Definitely usable if you write with them every couple days.
Great review, loved the comparisons. You're VP is a disgusting colour combo... probably plays a role in why you hate how it looks tbh... the matte black VP is mint
kakaonkaka I’ve actually owned a matte black VP and hated that one too... I used it as an everyday pen and the paint started coming off immediately! Plus I just don’t like how any of the parts line up on the pen... just a matter of personal preference tho!
I agree with Vanishing point being a popular ugly pen haha. I also prefer the Dialog 3. I think the Dialog 3 is the best capless pen tbh. I don’t mind its weight and si e.
I’ve found that dropping the Vanishing Point nib down while retracted causes the nib unit to jolt forward, jamming the nib against the inside of the sealing mechanism, causing the tines to splay outward. If it happens a few times it can make the nib unusable unless you send it to a nibmeister. I once sent a nib unit damaged in this way to pilot and they told me it couldn’t be repaired
Lamy Dialog 3's grip is really horrible, dependning how your fingers hold it (if your middle finger tip is on then section then it's ok; but, if you are used to place it under the section then it sucks) Build quality section about Pilot is very subjective (aethetics, as usual). The Boy was clearly sponsored by Lamy.
While not literally sponsored by Lamy, I think the fact that I paid a good bit less than retail price for my Dialog influenced my feelings on it somewhat. I still stand by the Vanishing point looking clumsy, especially compared to the older, sleeker versions of the Capless.
@@oliveboypens sleeker version of Pilot capless, maybe the LS version... (but I still prefer the standard version) One point on which I must agree with you is the springs in Pilot capless make it "less durable" than Lamy Dialog 3. But(!) the way the rubber gasket on Dialog 3 "rubs" out the nib, make lead us to think it might crackle on the long run and make Dialog 3 not so durable as it looks to be. To sum up : metal parts are better in Dialog, but rubber service is better in Pilot capless (it's only used to make the inside more air tight, and not involved in the mechanics themselves)
@@oliveboypens I must say, the design choices on the CC are not to my liking. Why get rid of the clip then still retain that “nub” where it was? And why aren’t both ends rounded like the original?? I WiSH they’d fix this! Awesome… now I can buy one. 😉
I really loved that Platinum at least tried to create their own retractable pen, and I hope they learn from everyone's feedback.
Glo Worm I’m glad too! It seems like they put a lot of work into it, and I’m hoping their second go at it will be really special.
Thank you Olive Boy!
Yeah I think it is good for the hobby to have at least one company explore the capless model design under 100 dollars
The thickness of the Curidas actually makes it more comfortable than the VP for me. The Dialog 3 is also thick, but it's also heavy enough to use as a projectile, so that detracts from the comfort.
This was the best review and comparison of these pens I have seen so far! Thank you for being thorough and honestly opinionated! Excellent points made and to be considered about all 3 and I think you pretty much nailed it all.
I just chanced upon your channel because I’m keen on getting a Curidas, and been watching several reviews. I’m glad I did because this was such a quality, fun, helpful review all around. Thanks for that!
I have a pair of VPs and one Dialog 3. All are extremely dependable, handy, superb writers. Mine are in M and B nibs. The VP’s 18k is sublime. I rarely use F, and have only one EF in a collection of nearly 80 pens. Broads are my mainstay.
The Curidas is clearly a mixed bag of the good and the bad. But overall, I think it’s rather cool in its own right and the price is maybe just alright. Once I get the pen, I’ll know for sure. 🙂
I find the Dialog 3 to be clearly the best of the trio - excepting the price. It is, arguably, very overpriced at over $300. I have pens in that price range that I think are better and I like much more. Unlike many other users, though, I prefer the twist to open feature of the Dialog 3 more than the click-push open mechanism in other capless pens, as the VP and Curidas. This is one reason why I like the Pilot Fermo more than the VP.
Amyway, I think comparison videos are generally a lot of fun to watch. Do more of them.
R
My fine-nib VP comes with me for every pharmacy shift and works wonderfully. Really makes my day a little bit more fun every time I use it to mark a bottle or write a phone script.
I just recently ordered a medium nib dialog (palladium color) to be my "desk pen" that stays at home, and I am very excited to try it out!
Edit: I agree with the sadness that the VP scratches up its own clicky-bit
Nice review. I like these comparative reviews. I agree that these pens are not on the cutting edge of fashion but they all feature function over fashion. In the right setting all of these pens outshine screw or pop cap pens. If you want a sleeker and bit more fashionable design you could mention the Pilot Decimo, which is the Vanishing Points little sister, or brother if you prefer. It’s thinner and has some better fashion elements while still using the same changeable nib units that the Vanishing Point uses. Also, on May 20, 2020 a Pilot released the Vanishing Point LS which features the combination of the up and down clicker with the twisting mechanism of the original Vanishing Point.
I love the idea of retractable pens, and the Decimo is what I use mostly at work. The Decimo is much prettier than the VP. When I first bought it, I got a defective fine nib. I replaced the nib. I’ve replaced the nib 4x now, because I’ve dropped the pen so many times and sometimes it hits the floor nib first. All the replacement nibs have written perfectly, very very smooth. The pen itself is starting to look pretty beat up, but using it at work, I’m not really all that careful with it. It goes in and out of my pockets and bag, tossed around on countertops, dropped on hard tile or cement floors, etc….but I’d say that after almost two years, it looks pretty decent. I am considering getting a medium or broad. I’d love to try the Platinum pen…but damn, it’s so ugly. I’d think I’d rather get the steel nib Pilot Capless.
Thanks for ur review. As Chinese, I may prefer Japanese pens more cuz they were designed better to write Japanese characters as well as Chinese. I love the appearance of Lamy, sadly the writing experience is just acceptable. I haven't tried the one Lamy designed for Chinese users yet, hope it will change my perception.
All three a bit thick for comfortable use for me - I have a Decimo, the more slender version of the Pilot. The nib, a medium, is wet and deliciously smooth - incomparably better than anything else in my collection, and that includes a vintage Montblanc.
Well done comparison. I own the steel nib Pilot Capless, and I do find scratch markers on the knock button. That being said, my takeaway from this video is that the Curidas is over engineered and underbuilt, the Dialog 3 is over engineered she overbuilt, and the Capless is sort of a good medium between the two. I was not a fan of the fine nib, however. I’d say that medium or broad on the Capless would be better. I’m a Pilot fanboy, but I love the F nib on my Preppy, which is in between a Pilot F and M nib in terms of width, so if the Curidas is anything like this, then I won’t rule out getting one.
I have both a Namiki Vanishing Point and I like the design much better. I think there was a loss in design funding when it moved from the luxury Namiki line to the more work oriented Pilot line.
Sounds like I really gotta try the Curidas, it looks like a fun pen to have! I have both VP decimo and VP Fermo, and I love Fermo for its good look and silent mechanism. The decimo is so tiny and handy so I use it at work with Platinum Cassis Black. Can’t stand the thick lines Lamy puts down, and for that price point I’d rather get a capped 3776 Celluloid that sits pretty on a desk. Japanese brands are the way to go for me, just because I like fine lines too much lol! Thank you for the detailed comparison, I thoroughly enjoyed the video!
There's something to be said for posting only when you have something to say. Congrats! A great comparison to reassure me that I chose the correct capless fountain pen. Why should pens have caps at all? This limits the size of my pen collection considerably going forward.
so an update from my earlier post. I had a freak accident with my original FP nib that made me have to buy a replacement gold fine--I now agree with your statement about inconsistency. The nib tines came out of the box being slightly misaligned and very dry writing compared to the last one. I've been tinkering with it ever since to get it to a place where I want it to be, which has been educational, but admittedly annoying. My original dialog had a factory defect in the mechanism that made me have to return it, but my new one does not have that issue. The dialog eventually DID require a slight repair because, by normal use, the clip got bent ever so slightly and the "sinking" end of the nib became extended out of the body in such a way that it could wobble back and forth and prevent the extension mechanism from working properly if I didn't carefully make sure the clip was properly aligned ahead of time. If I were just using it as a desk pen, this wouldn't be as much of an issue, but I've also been using my Dialog during my pharmacy work days and this extra step became a significant problem. I fixed the issue by sliding a zip-tie under the clip and hand-bending the clip back down so that the function now works as intended again. Once more, not a deal-breaker, but it was very distressing before I figured out how to fix it given my expectations for the pen due to its price point. Finally, I've recently acquired a fine-nib curidas and am surprisingly satisfied with it as a pen for use at work. The nib works well enough, if being a bit thin and scratchy for my liking, but after the initial break-in period, I've been thoroughly impressed with the performance and the added durability of the steel nib is somewhat nice after having my original VP nib incident.
All three pens aren't without their own issues, but I feel all 3 are equally valid in their own way. I still prefer the VP for having a sweet-spot of satisfying writing feeling, classy appearance, ease of deployment, and being lightweight enough to not make my pharmacy smock pocket sag too terribly. It is just impressive enough to become a conversation piece with interested patients, but not so gaudy that it comes off as bragging. The Dialog, being a medium nib, provides the smoothest writing experience, and the larger nib definitely makes me smile more when I use it just for its extra bit of flash, but the deploy mechanism does add a few seconds to every time I need to use it, and I definitely have to go the reverse-writing route when making marks on very ink resistant pharmacy vial label paper; also, I have to admit that the hefty weight does cause pocket sag and makes me more nervous about it slipping out when I have to bend over. Finally, the curidas is much less elegant looking, which makes me a little sad, but its performance is actually quite nice given its cheaper price point, and the durability of the steel nib makes me less nervous when I have to momentarily lend it to a coworker.
For me the Namiki Raden versions of the Capless looked the best, even though the shape is the same as the regular Pilot Capless, that deep translucent black urushi finish and the Raden stripes are just stunning. I have both the Namiki and Dialog 3 (palladium), I find my self EDC the Namiki a lot more.
I love the newer CC In the dark blue. But I have heard that the nib dries out fairly quickly- as with all of the Lamy selections.
I tend to have many pens inked at one time and my pilots platinum’s and other pens even my vanishing point manages to stay wet and write first time every time - almost. What is the deal with the CC?
Love your handwriting !
I A-dore my Curidas EF! Usually, all the EFs I tried always had too much feedback for me. But the Curidas? It glides effortlessly on the paper and is pretty wet for such a thin line! Sure, it’s got juuuust a little tooth when you write fast, but for the most part it’s very smooth! I also don’t really mind the big button, since my fingers are very long and to open my click-action pens, I just… Slam the button on my desk anyway lmao. Nib is awesome, click-action is convenient, size dosen’t bother me, so what’s wrong with mine?
The trap. The SMELLY DINGUS trap.
First of all, it does not seal. Like at all. I leave it closed for an hour and the pen already rough starts. Like what’s the point of that complicated trap, with the weird hole that you mentionned, just for it to act like it isn’t even there? It drives me nuts, but that’s not even the worst part
After just a few days of using it daily at work, I looked at the inside of the little trap and I found a super thin line of… *green ink* that *traversed the trap from top to bottom*
It rubs
The nib. Friggin’ rubs.
So not only does it not seals, it touches the nib when closing, potentially wearing out the tipping material (haven’t had any issues so far) but most of all… Spreading ink all over the nib unit housing inside of the pen! When the nib comes out, the trap rubs against the base of the nib unit (which is normal the nib unit’s gotta get pushed for the nib to be exposed), but with that eenie tiny line, the black plastic picks up the ink from the thin line and, when the nib retracts, *gushes it all over the inner barrel!* And while it does that, the eenie tiny line gets a new supply of ink by touching the retracting nib full of fresh ink! And the cycle repeat until the inner housing is so full of ink that it starts to dry *in* the pen and *borderline gluing the nib unit to the housing, even preventing the button from clicking.* Don’t. Ask. Me. How. I. Know.
So every once in a while I have to pass a wet cotton swap through the pen and remove all the dried ink, and trust me it ain’t pretty. All of that because of one tiny dysfunctionnal seal that fails as a seal and as a nib protector!
So… Yah, best Extra-Fine I’ve ever tried so far, I don’t mind most of it’s flaws but that door alone prevents me from using it as often as it deserves.
I’ve used the vanishing point for 10+ years. EF nib. I find a more vertical pose is best. I also used the Falcon 2. Which is better with a flatter pose
I want a dialog 3 now! It looks beautiful! Now I'm going to have to save for it!!
I don't know why Curidas gets hate from the audience. Platinum curidas is a masterpiece of engineering to see, an art, and sometimes art can be ugly for some people but it's way better in looks than Pilot vanishing point. Pilot vanishing point is the definition of "Ugliness". If I had to spend 400 dollars, then I would probably go for a new experience such as Pilot Falcon, maybe Dialog 3 later. Obviously, Mont Blanc 149 is always in everyone's bucket list.
I'm not sure if they're still making them, but the Pilot Fermo has a twist mechanism like the Dialog 3. Very smooth and silent action, and the shape and look of the pen is more elegant than the VP. Way too backweighted though, unfortunately.
I have all three and hands-down my vote goes to the VP. I have huge hands and thought I’d love the Lamy because it’s bigger but I think it’s almost too big. I prefer Japanese nibs and their fine-ness so I knew I wouldn’t prefer the Dialog’s nib but to my surprise I did like it. Though, honestly, a juicy, broader nib will do a lot to help the smoothness. Strangely enough, my EF and F on the VP are still my smoothest nibs of the three.
Yes!! Olive Boy is back!! Thanks for the comparison video. Lots of great information. Really dig the engineering. Don't think a Capless pen is in my future though, trying to write with my fingers over a clip or bumps and knobs would truly drive me mad!
don subleski thanks for the support! Capless pens are definitely not for everyone, but some people are big fans!
The con40 isn’t bad if you know how to fill it. I get a full fill from the bottle. You have to flip it upside down and push out the excess air.
That’s a good point! I also just don’t like how it rattles around though.
I have two of the curidas is medium and fine and now seeing yours, I’d like to get the extra fine. I have the pilot vanishing point also but not the dialog as that’s way out of my price range.
I personally don't like the twist to open feature on the dialog. Fir a pen that expensive, they shouldve made it a clicker IMO
There’s a Chinese copy of the Dialog 3 that you can get off aliexpress for around $35. The twist mechanism is a little stiff but it’s a great pen for the price. I also have a Pilot VP but it’s the Lamy knockoff that I take everywhere since it has the convenience of a retractable nib without posing the risk that if I drop it I’ll have ruined a $150 pen.
@@meshzzizk sounds interesting. I’ve never bought anything from aliexpress because it usually takes a month for items to arrive, but it may be worth it to try this pen;)
I have a lamy Dialogue 3 and good lord....that pen is on another level of Awesome!!! one of my favorite pens thus far and i have over 100 pens.
Re the Pilot Vanishing Point, consider yourself flamed . I own a Curidas and several Vanishing Points. I’m interested in these points from a technical standpoint. Even though the Boston Safety Pen has a cap, once you remove the cap, it has a similar twist movement to get the nib out. I certainly intend to get a Dialogue. The comparison setup is a useful one.
DON'T GET THE STEEL NIBBED VERSION OF THE VANISHING POINT! I got it and I regret it so much... (It's sold as "Special Alloy Nib" on Amazon)
Why not? I’ve never used one but I’ve been considering buying one for a friend - it’s otherwise the same pen as the gold nibbed version (which I have) and I’ve found Pilot’s other steel nibs are very good.
@@meshzzizk I actually liked the medium steel nib on my special alloy nib capless more than the 18k gold one... but that's just personal preference!
It's up to you if the price is worth it.
Funnily enough to I was just thinking that I wish the steel version was more easily available, it's not available at all in the UK as far as I have found. With a nib of its size on a pen of this type having a gold nib really does nothing more than push up the cost, and apart from the click mechanism the VP really has nothing much else going for it so the price of the gold nib version for me is more than I am willing to pay for the pen.
I’m a fan of the vanishing point, if you switch out it’s converter for a bladder converter (same as the metropolitan) it’s better. Aesthetically I think the vanishing point is the prettiest, it’s simple but elegant. You call the platinum the prettiest but it’s like a cigar with a pocket clip and looks uncomfortable
Thanks, Olive Boy, for a great video. Was very useful for me, and it was fun to watch too. I'm quite curious if the cap seal of the revolving-type (twist-type) Pilot Fermo is as good as the 'normal' Vanishing Points. I'm always worried about the nib drying up. Any idea? Again, thank you for a great video!
Fabulous, thorough and informative review. Well done!
Quillidyllic Gold thank you!!!
The Lamy is clearly the best out of the three in my opinion, but there is no way it can beat the Lamy 2000 on any front and it is more expensive than I would be willing to pay for it. I got my Lamy 2000 for 70% of the original price from Cult Pens and it easily gets my vote for the GOAT pen and I find it just as fast to uncap as any click pen is maybe with the exception of a Tactile Turn bolt-action rollerball.
I would love to see a bolt action fountain pen but until then I think I'll stay with capped pens.
The 2000 is pretty much unmatched in terms of a user pen, the dialog (for me) is a cooler object that happens to also be a pen. A bolt action pen would be great!
@@oliveboypens Despite its higher price tag I would say that the Lamy 2000 is indeed one of the best value for money pens and almost without a doubt the best value for money pen which isn't from China or Taiwan or Noodler's I guess. The effort and though put into the design and the precision and skill put into executing it is truly exceptional. The has a good gold nib, high built quality with tight tollerances, a machined spring clip, high quality nice feeling GPRPC material, a very good piston filling system and the best capping mechanism of any pen of any price, it just feels so nice to cap! And the Bauhaus inspired design is really cool, especially for a product design student such as myself. If you look at the engraved Lamy on the clip you will see how it aligns with the length of the pen when down and aligns with the curvature of the barrel when elevated and thats detail! Every spect of the pen is thought through to function as well as possible. You are very lucky to own the blue limited edition version too!
Just recently found your videos, great job, you've got a subscriber!
I have a VP.. Thinking of adding Curidas.. Dailog is way out of my budget..
you prolly dont care but if you are bored like me atm you can watch pretty much all the latest movies on Instaflixxer. I've been binge watching with my gf lately :)
@Rohan Jimmy Definitely, I have been using Instaflixxer for since november myself =)
Thanks very much for the video. It was very informative.
But there are other contenders from China. Namely Majohn which has copied to a point of interchangability.
I must say that the Lamy would be the one for me.
Thanks again.
I have a Pilot Decimo (which I think is better than the standard VP in every way) but now I really want a dialog 3
I just purchased a Decimo M point. Find the nib to write more like broad point and very wet. How do the newer pilot vanishing points differ from the vintage Namiki Capless?
Funny you should ask- I just uploaded a video on that topic a few weeks ago. Go check it out!
I’d love to know which one of these you consider to be the most comfortable, in terms of a daily writer. I own a VP and am interested how the grip and fell compares when writing.
That Lamy "ef" is as wide as a pilot B. Not a fair comparison IMO.
D D I have a Lamy EF ground down to a Japanese EF, but I only wanted to use stock nibs for the most out of the box comparison that I could.
I've found pilot M to be as a Lamy F (2000 nib v VP nib)
You addressed several things I never got into specifically the size and weight. This was a great video! And you showed the Curidas better than I did.
I enjoyed this. These are the "big three" of the capless world. For me, the Lamy ended up on top as well, but it's a personal preference. I'm also curious if you saw any cracking in the feed on your Curidas?
WaskiSquirrel Thanks!! I appreciate it!! Luckily I have not seen any feed cracking on my curidas, though the clip tab did sustain some damage when I removed the clip. I’m hoping my good luck lasts.
Great review. Thanks :D
Great review. 🙂
How do all these pen fare in terms of keeping the the nibs sealed?
They are all equally mediocre, but I have some non Capless pens that dry out as quickly as these. Definitely usable if you write with them every couple days.
Which would you pick if the Lamy Dialogue 3 and Lamy Imporium where at the same price?
Miyamoto Musashi dialog 3 every time. It’s a much more impressive pen, with a cooler mechanism!
Have you tried the Noodler's Boston Safety? It's purported that one can run any kind of ink in it... Including india ink.
I have not, but I have an early Moore safety pens that works in a very similar way!
Pilot Decimo... Daily driver "capless" fountain pen. Slightly smaller than the standard VP
Is the Dialog Three's nib tuned or at "factory setting" if you will.
Factory setting!
@@oliveboypens Is this awful kitchen towel paper or does it run this wide usually?
I wouldn’t be caught dead with awful paper! Just a rather wide nib.
The "OH, hello there" opening turned me off, but the level-headed review brought me around. V. nicely done!
SUBBED.
Great review, loved the comparisons. You're VP is a disgusting colour combo... probably plays a role in why you hate how it looks tbh... the matte black VP is mint
kakaonkaka I’ve actually owned a matte black VP and hated that one too... I used it as an everyday pen and the paint started coming off immediately! Plus I just don’t like how any of the parts line up on the pen... just a matter of personal preference tho!
I agree with Vanishing point being a popular ugly pen haha. I also prefer the Dialog 3. I think the Dialog 3 is the best capless pen tbh. I don’t mind its weight and si e.
I’ve found that dropping the Vanishing Point nib down while retracted causes the nib unit to jolt forward, jamming the nib against the inside of the sealing mechanism, causing the tines to splay outward. If it happens a few times it can make the nib unusable unless you send it to a nibmeister. I once sent a nib unit damaged in this way to pilot and they told me it couldn’t be repaired
Lamy Dialog 3's grip is really horrible, dependning how your fingers hold it (if your middle finger tip is on then section then it's ok; but, if you are used to place it under the section then it sucks)
Build quality section about Pilot is very subjective (aethetics, as usual).
The Boy was clearly sponsored by Lamy.
While not literally sponsored by Lamy, I think the fact that I paid a good bit less than retail price for my Dialog influenced my feelings on it somewhat. I still stand by the Vanishing point looking clumsy, especially compared to the older, sleeker versions of the Capless.
@@oliveboypens sleeker version of Pilot capless, maybe the LS version... (but I still prefer the standard version)
One point on which I must agree with you is the springs in Pilot capless make it "less durable" than Lamy Dialog 3.
But(!) the way the rubber gasket on Dialog 3 "rubs" out the nib, make lead us to think it might crackle on the long run and make Dialog 3 not so durable as it looks to be.
To sum up : metal parts are better in Dialog, but rubber service is better in Pilot capless (it's only used to make the inside more air tight, and not involved in the mechanics themselves)
Too bad Lamy doesn’t offer the Dialog 3 sans clip.
Funny you should mention that… check out the Dialog CC! It just came out. It’s a shortened, clipless Dialog.
@@oliveboypens Awesome. My new Wish Power is intoxicating! I wish I had 20 trillion dollars in my bank account!
@@oliveboypens I must say, the design choices on the CC are not to my liking. Why get rid of the clip then still retain that “nub” where it was? And why aren’t both ends rounded like the original??
I WiSH they’d fix this! Awesome… now I can buy one. 😉
Um, can I just say that I think you're pretty cute?
The Pilot really is the world’s most popular ugly pen.
it's true. Maybe next model will be better.
Lamy is the most advance design that has a full nib!
I wonder why these companies don't put the clips on the other end like a normal pen 🤷🏽♂️
For a fountain pen, you want the nib pointing up when not in use, otherwise you'll get the ink leaking out.