I stumbled upon this video researching the vanishing point and whether it’s worth investing. I laughed when I realized that we hold our pens the same way. I never thought that was odd or even considered others hold their writing utensils/write differently. Thank you for this review!
It's such a great pen. I'm glad you're happy with it. Since watching pen videos on TH-cam, I've noticed a lot of people your age and younger using that grip. So, it's clearly a grip that is being taught to children. My assumption is it's suggested for children who have small or weaker fingers. And with more children writing earlier, thanks to the growth of preschool attendance, such a situation is probably more common. In art school, we were taught specific grips for different tools and tasks. But, personally, if a grip is working for you and its causing any complications, stick with it.
I think so! I’m such a newbie though, I don’t want to invest until I know what type of ink and nib size I prefer. I have a Lamy and a ton of bulletproof black ink samples I’m working through!
Ok, I'm going to make a few comments. I'm 61, and have used fountain pens since I was 9-10. I have had inexpensive ($5) - expensive (more than $1000). Some of the really inexpensive pens are my favorites (try "shark fountain pens) on the pen sites or Amazon. They even come with a converter. OK, I bought my first vanishing point years ago when it first came out. Namiki was the company. It was ok, but not my favorite. I learned that Japanese nibs run much smaller than European/American. If you like a FP, order a Med in the vanishing point. Eventually i lost the pen. It was probably in a purse. Some years later someone I knew swore by it, so I bought another. Here's what is "my" hangup about the pen: the nib is so small. It feels fragile to me. It's not, I guess, but still it seems delicate. One of the more expensive Lamys (2000?) has a tiny nib, and I don't like it. I really don't worry about taking it out. I figure a pen is meant to be used, just as jewelry is meant to be worn. I also figure I have spent a LOT on TNs but take them out. And etc. FWIW, you can get different Lamy nib sizes on Amazon. They simply pull off the pen and the new one slides on. Finally, I don't worry at all about ink drying time. That's what blotter paper is for. It can be purchased on Amazon or through the pen stores. You get about 10 sheets, and it can last years. Just because it gets ink all over it doesn't mean it can't still be used (think jewelry cleaning cloths - they last a long time). If I'm using an A6, I cut the blotter paper down. I use it as a bookmark. Just lay the paper in top of the page before you turn it, hold it in place, and rub your hand over it in the same way you'd rub paper over glue. In a pinch, use a paper napkin. If you don't move the blotter paper when you are blotting, the ink doesn't smear. I never worry about dry time of ink. Doesn't matter. I blot. It's what people did "in the olden days" before ballpoint. Sorry to ramble but hope I've added to the conversation.
I asked for this for Christmas and going with the blue with small designs I can not wait to get it into my hand. Thank you Sam I knew you would be able to help me decided which one to get. Love and light to you and family!
I am older and have the Namiki Vanishing Point, in both fine and medium. I also have the Pilot Capless (a name they do not use or market here), same mechanism with the cheaper alloy nib. That is what you have. Fyi, Asian pens tend to have finer nibs for writing their characters. Also, finer nibs tend to do better with cheap paper. There is less ink for feathering. That makes it a good one for office or school.
Another enjoyable video. I have not fallen down the fountain pen rabbit hole as yet. I am still in Frixions. Ha Ha Ha I am from a time when the desks at school had inkwells and fountain pens were a horror. I am sure they have come a long way. Your pen is beautiful. Not having experience with present day fountain pens, could there be a possibility of ink leakage from the end of the pen where the nib is in that there is no actual cap? Just wondering.
Oh Wow! I realize that I hold my pens the exact same same way 😱 I never even thought about that. Thank you for doing this video. It made me think about a few things I wouldn’t have thought about otherwise. I’ve wanted to purchase this pen for 4 years 🙈 and haven’t pulled the trigger yet. It takes me a long time to make expensive purchases. But I enjoyed your thoughts on it. Now I know I can get it on Amazon should I choose to.
Good choice, Sam! I have a Pilot Vanishing Point in the matte black, which is the cheapest (price-wise) fountain pen I own. But I love it!! I use it everyday in my Hobonichi Cousin (which stays on my desk at work), in my Hobonichi Weeks (which I carry with me everywhere) and my Hobonichi original A6 (which is my journal and stays at home). I sign documents with it, everything! I love that it is a clicker pen and I love that it is weight-y (in my opinion). I hope you get a lot of use out of yours. Thanks for sharing another video!
Sam Kelley Hey, Sam! Not sure if you know this little “Jeopardy” tidbit...Japanese pens (like the Pilot) have a slightly thinner (finer) nibs than the non-Japanese made pens. Like, a “FIne” in the Pilot Vanishing Point, for example, will seem like an “extra fine”, etc.
Omg. I have the exact same pen; colour and everything. It took me so long to get it to work cause I was trying to make it work with the converter... What converter did you buy?? I'm currently just using a cartridge.
Hey, I am German. You got Lamy pronounced correctly when you pronounced it with an "open a", like...NOT as in "man", but as in ""arm". Hope that helped :-)
Not clickable, but 'turnable': the Lamy Dialog fountain pen. Also very handy for making quick notes without having to remove a cap. It's quite big, though.
I got a Rhodium/Gunmetal Vanishing Point from a friend and she sold it to me for $75. I adore it so much-- I would say it's worth the full price point. It's the best pen ever. Thanks for the review.
Just got this, after similar contemplation. I hold the pen normally and I was surprised as to how normal it feels. But the biggest surprise for me was the hot butterscotch smooth nib! It was a delight.
i used to have the lateral quadrupod grip before using fountain pens. i would guess its because the lateral quadrupod/lateral tripod grip is more stable and it can exert more force on the paper. because when using fountain pens that do not require so much force i feel like the normal tripod grip works well.
Thanks for your review. It prompted me to go ahead and get one because I have been looking at them for sometime now. I am going to be really happy when it gets here.😊
Very informative review!!! Thank you, because I am one of the ones on the fence about getting this unique fountain pen. The way you hold your pen is just lovely, thank you!👍🏼 Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it! 😎 Can't wait until the next video! Take care, my friend. 😄💙💙💙
Hi Sam. I bought a Pilot VP last week with a Fine 18k gold nib. I find the nib a bit too "springy" for my liking and much prefer the stiffer steel alloy nib on my friends Capless. If you are interested in a straight across trade for your Steel nib, let me know. I suppose all my years of using ballpoints has conditioned me to apply too much pressure to the pen and I'm not really interested in modifying anything as I still use ballpoints or gel pens most of the time.
I stumbled upon this video researching the vanishing point. I had to pause on your Hobonichi Sometimes Lucky cover. My favorite. How does it hold up without a cover on cover.
Heck yes you should invest in this pen. Goulet pens is the best company for fountain pens. I have a regular vanishing point and a vanishing point decimo. I prefer the heft of the regular vanishing point. The only thing I don’t like is how expensive the convert units are.
Chalet Pens has free shipping depending on your order total and you can also earn points to get a free bottle of ink. Goldspot Pens is also good. Goulet is one of the best known but they charge more for shipping. Goulet does have really good instructional videos.
Love this video. I have been on the fence about buying this pen. I love a fine point, even as fine as .38 so I know I will love this nib. I love the Pilot fountain pens anyway. I agree the fine point in Lamy is a larger nib and more of a medium size. I have a Lamy and I still use it although it is a bit to “large” a nib size. All the reasons you gave was my concerns, I have a traditional grip but was concerned with the placement of the clip. It just seemed to me no matter your grip it could be in the way. I will be buying it. Your demonstration and explanation were great.
I love my Decimo. I think that if you could get to holding the pen at a true 45 degree angle you would get more ink out of the nib. Fountain pens are meant to be held at 45 degrees to allow for the ink to flow properly down the feed and out of the nib. I know on a Japanese fine nib you won't get that much line variation, but with the gold nib which is much softer than the alloy, you can get some really nice and subtle variation to your line.
I got the same pen in the same color, and it is by far my favorite fountain pen. I ended up swapping the alloy nib for the rhodium plated gold one from Goulet, and definitely don't regret that decision either. Glad you're happy with your new toy!
I love this pen and am seriously considering it. I like a finer fine then the Lamy fine and a click fountain pen would be a dream come true! :) Did you order the CON-50 or CON-40 converter? It seems the CON-50 would be better but is discontinued by Pilot. the CON-40 is cheaper and a few reviews of the CON-50 on Amazon said they got the CON-40 instead when ordering the CON-50.
I write with a different grip, too. I write with my pen resting against my ring finger, instead of my middle finger. I've wanted a VP for a long time, but I have other expenses right now. I love Goulet Pens for my fountain pens... They are awesome!
@@samplans heh. I'm asking if the nib is better because I plan on saving for one and buying one on Christmas! I was tempted by the pilot falcon too! or lamy 2000. my friend is going to Japan this chrismtas tho so I was gonna ask her to get me a purple gold nib decimo in M
@@samplans ooh what are your favorite nibs overall? The decimo will be my first 40$+ fountain pen :) I've been in this hobby for 11 years (since I was 12) and I never got anything too fancy
I bought the Pilot Decimo Pearlescent white with a Medium nib and then added a stub nib unit. I keep it at home as the nibs are 18k gold. My daily carry is a Pilot Metropolitan Retro pop with the cm stub nib. The Vanishing point that you have there has the alloy nib which makes it more affordable. I paid just over $200 for the Decimo and the 2 gold nib units. I love the pen and especially the way the gold nibs write. They are a bit springy which makes them more enjoyable to write with.
I'm so glad I have not fell down the fountain pen rabbit hole 😆 although your pens are quite beautiful. My MIL commented about my pencil grip when I was dating my husband I also had no idea what a pen holding freak I was 😂.
I’m so happy you did a review of this pen because I thought I would never be able to afford one, but you have now convinced me since there is a more affordable option! You have convinced me with the breezy tote and now this vanishing point! My husband won’t appreciate this 😂 Another awesome video! Thank you for sharing ❤️
Hi Sam, thanks for the review. Though I bought mine last week (decimo capless) I still like to watch reviews. I bought the medium nib because I watched a lot of reviews before I bought it. It also took me a long time to decide buying it and I am so glad with it. It writes so enormously smooth. I never sensed something like that before. The only thing I am a bit puzzeld about is the amount of ink that goes into the convertor. It’s not more than maybe a millimeter. I read about that it has a small capacity but this I find really small. I am considering to use a syringe to refill a normal size cartridge. But all together I am really happy.
I watched your video and several other videos on this pen recently and then I saw Birmingham Pens had a sale on this pen on Thursday so I purchased it. It arrived today (Saturday) I’m so amazed by shipping times of small companies. That’s why I love supporting small like Birmingham pens, Goulet, JetPens, etc. I got the matte black version. I am really enjoying this pen but it took me a while to invest in it but I’m thankful that I did now that I have it
I love my Vanishing Points. I have a Medium and a Fine. In general, Japanese Nibs are finer than European Fine nibs. I use .7 and prefer the Medium VP.
I just got my hands on one of these, exact same model! I am heavy handed and have been told that I should not invest in gold nibs. I would not have spent the extra money for the gold one anyway. I love the colour of it! Did you ever end up putting noodlers in it? I hear the pen is very dry and noodlers is the wettest ink I know of.
I have several of these and love them! I love the fine nib best for using my hobonichis and work planners. I have a stub and a medium as well and the medium writes more like a broad in my opinion. I assumed Japanese nibs would be thinner but is not the case with these nibs.
You don't hold the pen wrong. It's a different style. The "right" grip that you mention is called an active tripod grip. You use a lateral tripod grip. Not wrong, just different. My grip is lateral quadropod so even farther from the "right" grip. All this to say, we don't need to worry about correcting our grip 😊
I love the springiness of the vp and decimo. The mechanism is so tactile. Safaris are amazing, but vp and decimo are great for something a little nicer
That clip is seriously holding me back from buying the VP. I want it, bad, but man, what if I hate it LOL I'm going to the LA Pen Show next year, so I'll wait and see if I come across it, so I can try it out. I am not a fan of Lamy though, go figure. I don't like the look or the grip or even the nib. I just got a Moonman S3 and holy cow, I'm in love. The nib is the smoothest thing ever. The Jinhao 51A is really nice too, has a hooded nib that seriously reminds me of the VP one. I've come to the point where I'm more about the inks than the pens, because I already have a pretty solid collection.
I love my VPs. I bought a fine, but it’s too fine for me, so I ordered a medium nib unit to replace it. I feel like there is a big jump between the fine and medium, though. I wish it was a little smaller. 🤣 Be careful with adjusting your nib on your own like that though. It voids any warranty you may have, so if you mess it up, you’ll have to buy a whole new nib unit. Enjoy!!! :)
Congrats on the new pen, Sam! The nib units are definitely pricey, I recommend checking out resale sites/groups and see if someone is willing to swap with you (I see swap requests fairly often!) You could also go through a nibmeister to grind your nib more to your preference 👍🏼 but that can be another investment (depending on who you choose). I waited so long to get my VP because I wasn't sure about the grip either, I ended up going to a pen show to hold one 🤣
Nice review! Recently purchased my first hobonichi techo, because the Earthbound/Mother video game series designer, Shigesato Itoi, owns hobonichi techo. Anyway, i found out out they released a limited run “mother” edition pen, $160! Who the heck spends that kind of money on a pen. Watched a few reviews, and i’m convinced, maybe i can get onboard with fountain pens.
That butterscotch color looks just like Bakelite. I like the design of this pen, but I’m sad that I missed the Twilight ombré limited edition, and I keep comparing everything else to that color.
The price of the Vanishing Point/Decimo depends on the nib you select. Gold nib plated is expensive. Alloy nib not as expensive. My Burgundy Decimo (more slender than the Vanishing Point) cost $145 at Goulet Pens and I find every excuse I can to write with it. It is that pleasant an experience. Diamine Oxblood and Diamine Red Dragon work superbly in it. Very wet inks for a very fine Japanese nib. This pen is all it is described as. The mechanism and the feel of the nib are nearly perfect. And I am left-handed.
Thank you so much for your video and link! These pens are around € 200 / $237 due to the gold nib I guess. I now ordered a dark blue alloy for half the prize including shipment!! Can’t wait!
i’ve realized that Japanese brands are finer than other nibs, making them drier with ink flow. my handwriting looks better with a EF or F nib. the difference between Lamy, Kaweco, Twsbi, and Pilot in just the EF or F nibs is insane! In terms of my writing hold, I change it up depending on my mood.
I think that’s what I like most about fountain pens across different brands. I get to try them out and found out the quirks from pen to pen within a brand and even brand to brand. I thought your pen was a Decimo at first, but quite surprised that it’s not. That color is such a striking color.....but did you see they have a green version also? Not quite olive, maybe emerald...
My husband doesn't write properly....in which I mean he didn't go to a catholic school and taught by nuns who would ruler your hands if you didn't hold your fountain pen properly....yes I was taught writing as a child using fountain pens...that's my it took me so long to give in and use them again.....nightmare city! LOL! Have a blessed day!
I notice now more than ever that lots of people have “wonky” grips when they write. It’s habit, and it can be changed. I’m just curious as to why. Maybe it’s because penmanship isn’t taught in school anymore. It was when I was a kid, and I clearly remember how you held your writing instrument was important, and if you weren’t doing it the “right” way, you would be corrected until you did it the way that was considered proper.
This was the very first fountain I got that was over $100 and I got it when I graduated from high school, unfortunately I lost the pen in my university after a year and I was devastated, the pen meant a lot to me and I haven’t told anybody that I lost it because it was a gift from my sister. I saved up the money now and reordered the pen again and I feel much more at ease now, I guess I’m a little biased when it comes to this pen but this has been the best fountain I have ever owned, it was smooth as butter compared to the other fountain pens I used before such as twsbi vac 700 and the 700r version, the lamy safari, the lamy lx, and some cheap fountain pens I get from other cities as souvenirs for myself. Overall to me, the pilot vanishing point is totally worth it, I thought the clip would be annoying but in a way it is helpful to keep the pen straight since people who have no idea how to use a fountain pen can learn easier and it looks really professional in comparison to the other pens I mentioned.
Not so much about the pen here, rather a whole bunch about how you like to hold a pen. We were taught Penmanship in grade school, that included how to use fountain pens and how to maintain them. Fountain pens were the only type of pen back then. I still remember seeing the first ballpoint pen commercials and how hard they tried to reassure purchasers that they were reliable. Bic shot theirs through a board then wrote with it. Still I'd rather write/draw with a fountain pen, that's how I was taught and how I enjoy using them. There is a certin satisfaction when one places a line on paper, that can only be achieved with a nib and ink. I don't question that a ballpoint is a more convenient writing tool, but it always comes back to the pleasure of writing doesn't it? So along comes the Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point. Convienence married to a fountain pen, I have a few, some for cartridge some for dipping and love them all for what I use them for. If you're looking for the ease of a ballpoint along with the beautiful writing of a fountain pen, purchase the Pilot VP. It's a beautifully made tool that works as well as any fountain pen that can be purchased today.
I fear that I'm in the minority in the fountain pen community but I recently purchased Lamy Al Stars for myself and my partner and both of us were quite disappointed by how awful the medium nibs were. We both started off with Pilot Metropolitans and were genuinely taken aback by how a much more affordable pen could offer a superior pen. For this reason I think that if I ever invested in a gold nib pen it would likely be the vanshing point or one of the Custom series pens.
CrispyFrenFry I got a Lamy Al Star extra fine nib and was really upset about how scratchy it was. The tester at the store was smooth as butter so I think I had a bad lemon. I ended up using a nail buffer block to smooth out the tip and I’m much happier with the pen now. I have a pilot metropolitan but I can’t stand the grip section so I never use it.
personally i own a lamy safari in charcoal black, but looking at this pen because it being a japanese company and me being a leftie, the pen has less ink flowout compared to the lamy safari. i also love the idea of having a gold-nibbed fountain pen and i would probably be the one that is keen to take it all over the place minus the woodlands. id keep the safari for the woods.
@@samplans i thought so as well. i decided to look at other pens for lefties, and i am really looking at the pilot custom 912, ideally the waverly nib due to me being a side writer. i did try to do some underwriting though to help prevent a lot of the smudging issues but my lines end up going up for some reason lol. another reason why i think i want to get the pilot custom is because i want to just sometimes stop and appreciate the pen, and appreciate the nib design/form. thank you for reviewing the VP though, it's very cool to see people review different variants of the pen!
Excellent video, except you do not have a Vanishing Point, you have a Capless. They are different pens - the Vanishing Point has a steel nib whereas the Vanishing Point nob is in gold - that is why they are less expensive. They are both excellent pens, but not the same as each other.
I just wanted to get your attention - I have now removed the dislike. While you linked to the correct item that you showed, it was not the same pen as the title of your video. The title is Pilot Vanishing Point and you mention it a number of times but the pen you link to is the Pilot Capless - it is a different pen and less expensive than the Vanishing Point because it has a different nib and it feels different to write with. It seems I am splitting hairs - to a fountain pen nerd like me it is an important point. Both pens are excellent though and in fact, I may well buy a Capless as I agree that the color you bought is really cool. Plus, I can probably swap out the nib!
@@samplans That person is wrong - the Capless and the Vanishing Point are the same pen. A number of Pilot pens are called different names in the US than elsewhere and this is one of them. What a huge fuss to make over something so trivial.
they are the same pen, just the naming and marketing is different in different markets. the thing to look out for is if it is special alloy nib or gold nib - both sold in Japanese and western markets.
Have not dove into the fountain pens PLEASE give me your advise on what you think my first fountain should be and cost really a problem when it comes to pens I will find the means. 😀😀😀
The Lamy is designed to encourage a person to grip the pen correctly. We developed our writing style as children and carry it into adulthood. I am an older individual, and we learned handwriting in school, and the teacher pressed for us to hold our fountain pens correctly. If she hadn't, I would have gripped my pen in the same manner as you.
I did enjoy your review, however I was very distracted by the amount of times you used 'like' in a sentence. I know you were probably thinking when you used them, nun-the-less it's a habit that you should 'like' change. I have three VP's and each one is a joy to use. The VP Fine and Medium nibs write broader than a usual Pilot nib with the same marking, I'm not so sure why that is. Enjoy your pens.
I’m filled with envy ( because it’s not available for less than 200 USD here in India ) and guilt ( because I finally pulled the trigger after obsessing over it ) !
I'd love to see pilot release stand alone frixion ink thats just a little thinner or something to work in fountain pens. nobody has ever made erasable fountain pen inks (that i know of at least)
Sam Kelley I think I’m gonna order a bunch of refills and see if I can harvest the ink from them and just try it on a cheap pen like a preppy or a metropolitan since that has a converter. Worse case scenario it’s an excuse to buy another one lol
@@samplans You'll lose interest from viewers, not much people will watch for 17 minutes with side chat. Don't want this to be to long, but just saying.
I stumbled upon this video researching the vanishing point and whether it’s worth investing. I laughed when I realized that we hold our pens the same way. I never thought that was odd or even considered others hold their writing utensils/write differently. Thank you for this review!
I would never have known it was “wrong”, if not for my husband’s grandma!
It's such a great pen. I'm glad you're happy with it. Since watching pen videos on TH-cam, I've noticed a lot of people your age and younger using that grip. So, it's clearly a grip that is being taught to children. My assumption is it's suggested for children who have small or weaker fingers. And with more children writing earlier, thanks to the growth of preschool attendance, such a situation is probably more common. In art school, we were taught specific grips for different tools and tasks. But, personally, if a grip is working for you and its causing any complications, stick with it.
Thank you for this! I have been drooling over this pen since before Christmas but I have a wonky grip too 😩
I think so! I’m such a newbie though, I don’t want to invest until I know what type of ink and nib size I prefer. I have a Lamy and a ton of bulletproof black ink samples I’m working through!
Ok, I'm going to make a few comments. I'm 61, and have used fountain pens since I was 9-10. I have had inexpensive ($5) - expensive (more than $1000). Some of the really inexpensive pens are my favorites (try "shark fountain pens) on the pen sites or Amazon. They even come with a converter.
OK, I bought my first vanishing point years ago when it first came out. Namiki was the company. It was ok, but not my favorite. I learned that Japanese nibs run much smaller than European/American. If you like a FP, order a Med in the vanishing point.
Eventually i lost the pen. It was probably in a purse. Some years later someone I knew swore by it, so I bought another. Here's what is "my" hangup about the pen: the nib is so small. It feels fragile to me. It's not, I guess, but still it seems delicate. One of the more expensive Lamys (2000?) has a tiny nib, and I don't like it.
I really don't worry about taking it out. I figure a pen is meant to be used, just as jewelry is meant to be worn. I also figure I have spent a LOT on TNs but take them out. And etc.
FWIW, you can get different Lamy nib sizes on Amazon. They simply pull off the pen and the new one slides on.
Finally, I don't worry at all about ink drying time. That's what blotter paper is for. It can be purchased on Amazon or through the pen stores. You get about 10 sheets, and it can last years. Just because it gets ink all over it doesn't mean it can't still be used (think jewelry cleaning cloths - they last a long time). If I'm using an A6, I cut the blotter paper down. I use it as a bookmark. Just lay the paper in top of the page before you turn it, hold it in place, and rub your hand over it in the same way you'd rub paper over glue. In a pinch, use a paper napkin. If you don't move the blotter paper when you are blotting, the ink doesn't smear. I never worry about dry time of ink. Doesn't matter. I blot. It's what people did "in the olden days" before ballpoint.
Sorry to ramble but hope I've added to the conversation.
True. About blotter paper you can use it as a bookmark. With time it might even look like an abstract art piece like instagram.com/p/B0EZfx5CHbm/
I asked for this for Christmas and going with the blue with small designs I can not wait to get it into my hand. Thank you Sam I knew you would be able to help me decided which one to get. Love and light to you and family!
Huge Lamy fan here! I picked up my Lamy 2k about a week ago and I'm in love. I might think about getting a Dialog 3 in the future.
Hey Sam. I’m gonna get my first VP
Yay!
I am older and have the Namiki Vanishing Point, in both fine and medium. I also have the Pilot Capless (a name they do not use or market here), same mechanism with the cheaper alloy nib. That is what you have.
Fyi, Asian pens tend to have finer nibs for writing their characters.
Also, finer nibs tend to do better with cheap paper. There is less ink for feathering. That makes it a good one for office or school.
Another enjoyable video. I have not fallen down the fountain pen rabbit hole as yet. I am still in Frixions. Ha Ha Ha I am from a time when the desks at school had inkwells and fountain pens were a horror. I am sure they have come a long way. Your pen is beautiful. Not having experience with present day fountain pens, could there be a possibility of ink leakage from the end of the pen where the nib is in that there is no actual cap? Just wondering.
Oh Wow! I realize that I hold my pens the exact same same way 😱 I never even thought about that. Thank you for doing this video. It made me think about a few things I wouldn’t have thought about otherwise. I’ve wanted to purchase this pen for 4 years 🙈 and haven’t pulled the trigger yet. It takes me a long time to make expensive purchases. But I enjoyed your thoughts on it. Now I know I can get it on Amazon should I choose to.
I have the same grip as you!! I never realized that even after watching your plan with me videos. I might just ask for one for my birthday!
Thanks so much for all this information. Had been wondering about this pen for quite some time and you answered my questions.
Good choice, Sam! I have a Pilot Vanishing Point in the matte black, which is the cheapest (price-wise) fountain pen I own. But I love it!! I use it everyday in my Hobonichi Cousin (which stays on my desk at work), in my Hobonichi Weeks (which I carry with me everywhere) and my Hobonichi original A6 (which is my journal and stays at home). I sign documents with it, everything! I love that it is a clicker pen and I love that it is weight-y (in my opinion). I hope you get a lot of use out of yours. Thanks for sharing another video!
Sam Kelley Hey, Sam! Not sure if you know this little “Jeopardy” tidbit...Japanese pens (like the Pilot) have a slightly thinner (finer) nibs than the non-Japanese made pens. Like, a “FIne” in the Pilot Vanishing Point, for example, will seem like an “extra fine”, etc.
Omg. I have the exact same pen; colour and everything. It took me so long to get it to work cause I was trying to make it work with the converter... What converter did you buy??
I'm currently just using a cartridge.
Hey, I am German. You got Lamy pronounced correctly when you pronounced it with an "open a", like...NOT as in "man", but as in ""arm". Hope that helped :-)
Are there more clickable fountain pens other the vanishing point? .....I must know!
Not clickable, but 'turnable': the Lamy Dialog fountain pen. Also very handy for making quick notes without having to remove a cap. It's quite big, though.
Hey Sam enjoyed the info I’m a pen addic just bought my first Mont Blanc and love it. Just queries what is the smoothest ballpoint you have used
I got a Rhodium/Gunmetal Vanishing Point from a friend and she sold it to me for $75. I adore it so much-- I would say it's worth the full price point. It's the best pen ever. Thanks for the review.
Just got this, after similar contemplation.
I hold the pen normally and I was surprised as to how normal it feels.
But the biggest surprise for me was the hot butterscotch smooth nib!
It was a delight.
i used to have the lateral quadrupod grip before using fountain pens. i would guess its because the lateral quadrupod/lateral tripod grip is more stable and it can exert more force on the paper. because when using fountain pens that do not require so much force i feel like the normal tripod grip works well.
Thanks for your review. It prompted me to go ahead and get one because I have been looking at them for sometime now. I am going to be really happy when it gets here.😊
Do you think it can be used by a left handed?
Very informative review!!! Thank you, because I am one of the ones on the fence about getting this unique fountain pen. The way you hold your pen is just lovely, thank you!👍🏼 Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it! 😎 Can't wait until the next video! Take care, my friend. 😄💙💙💙
@@samplans It really was!!! Thanks so much!!! 😄💙💙💙
Hi Sam. I bought a Pilot VP last week with a Fine 18k gold nib. I find the nib a bit too "springy" for my liking and much prefer the stiffer steel alloy nib on my friends Capless. If you are interested in a straight across trade for your Steel nib, let me know. I suppose all my years of using ballpoints has conditioned me to apply too much pressure to the pen and I'm not really interested in modifying anything as I still use ballpoints or gel pens most of the time.
I stumbled upon this video researching the vanishing point. I had to pause on your Hobonichi Sometimes Lucky cover. My favorite. How does it hold up without a cover on cover.
I know a lot of people use it without the cover, but my fear of a cover getting a stain on it keeps me in a COC.
Heck yes you should invest in this pen. Goulet pens is the best company for fountain pens. I have a regular vanishing point and a vanishing point decimo. I prefer the heft of the regular vanishing point. The only thing I don’t like is how expensive the convert units are.
Chalet Pens has free shipping depending on your order total and you can also earn points to get a free bottle of ink. Goldspot Pens is also good. Goulet is one of the best known but they charge more for shipping. Goulet does have really good instructional videos.
I use a blunt syringe to refill the cartridge.
Love this video. I have been on the fence about buying this pen. I love a fine point, even as fine as .38 so I know I will love this nib. I love the Pilot fountain pens anyway. I agree the fine point in Lamy is a larger nib and more of a medium size. I have a Lamy and I still use it although it is a bit to “large” a nib size. All the reasons you gave was my concerns, I have a traditional grip but was concerned with the placement of the clip. It just seemed to me no matter your grip it could be in the way. I will be buying it. Your demonstration and explanation were great.
I love my Decimo. I think that if you could get to holding the pen at a true 45 degree angle you would get more ink out of the nib. Fountain pens are meant to be held at 45 degrees to allow for the ink to flow properly down the feed and out of the nib. I know on a Japanese fine nib you won't get that much line variation, but with the gold nib which is much softer than the alloy, you can get some really nice and subtle variation to your line.
I got the same pen in the same color, and it is by far my favorite fountain pen. I ended up swapping the alloy nib for the rhodium plated gold one from Goulet, and definitely don't regret that decision either. Glad you're happy with your new toy!
I love this pen and am seriously considering it. I like a finer fine then the Lamy fine and a click fountain pen would be a dream come true! :) Did you order the CON-50 or CON-40 converter? It seems the CON-50 would be better but is discontinued by Pilot. the CON-40 is cheaper and a few reviews of the CON-50 on Amazon said they got the CON-40 instead when ordering the CON-50.
I can't wait to hear how you like it. the reviews were mixed on amazon.@@samplans
I write with a different grip, too. I write with my pen resting against my ring finger, instead of my middle finger. I've wanted a VP for a long time, but I have other expenses right now. I love Goulet Pens for my fountain pens... They are awesome!
Is it really worth 4 twsbis? Does the nib feel better
I mean…it’s still my favorite fountain pen. 🤓
@@samplans heh. I'm asking if the nib is better because I plan on saving for one and buying one on Christmas! I was tempted by the pilot falcon too! or lamy 2000.
my friend is going to Japan this chrismtas tho so I was gonna ask her to get me a purple gold nib decimo in M
I’m not sure that the one I have has the *best* nib. I feel like the more expensive versions like the Decimo have a better nib.
@@samplans ooh what are your favorite nibs overall? The decimo will be my first 40$+ fountain pen :) I've been in this hobby for 11 years (since I was 12) and I never got anything too fancy
I bought the Pilot Decimo Pearlescent white with a Medium nib and then added a stub nib unit.
I keep it at home as the nibs are 18k gold.
My daily carry is a Pilot Metropolitan Retro pop with the cm stub nib.
The Vanishing point that you have there has the alloy nib which makes it more affordable.
I paid just over $200 for the Decimo and the 2 gold nib units.
I love the pen and especially the way the gold nibs write. They are a bit springy which makes them more enjoyable to write with.
I'm so glad I have not fell down the fountain pen rabbit hole 😆 although your pens are quite beautiful.
My MIL commented about my pencil grip when I was dating my husband I also had no idea what a pen holding freak I was 😂.
I’m so happy you did a review of this pen because I thought I would never be able to afford one, but you have now convinced me since there is a more affordable option! You have convinced me with the breezy tote and now this vanishing point! My husband won’t appreciate this 😂 Another awesome video! Thank you for sharing ❤️
Thanks for that Amazon link. Those retractable fountain pens get pricey! Love your "brain loading" caption.
Hi Sam, thanks for the review. Though I bought mine last week (decimo capless) I still like to watch reviews. I bought the medium nib because I watched a lot of reviews before I bought it. It also took me a long time to decide buying it and I am so glad with it. It writes so enormously smooth. I never sensed something like that before. The only thing I am a bit puzzeld about is the amount of ink that goes into the convertor. It’s not more than maybe a millimeter. I read about that it has a small capacity but this I find really small. I am considering to use a syringe to refill a normal size cartridge. But all together I am really happy.
I watched your video and several other videos on this pen recently and then I saw Birmingham Pens had a sale on this pen on Thursday so I purchased it. It arrived today (Saturday) I’m so amazed by shipping times of small companies. That’s why I love supporting small like Birmingham pens, Goulet, JetPens, etc. I got the matte black version. I am really enjoying this pen but it took me a while to invest in it but I’m thankful that I did now that I have it
I love my Vanishing Points. I have a Medium and a Fine. In general, Japanese Nibs are finer than European Fine nibs. I use .7 and prefer the Medium VP.
I just got my hands on one of these, exact same model! I am heavy handed and have been told that I should not invest in gold nibs. I would not have spent the extra money for the gold one anyway. I love the colour of it! Did you ever end up putting noodlers in it? I hear the pen is very dry and noodlers is the wettest ink I know of.
Yes! I keep Lexington Gray in it. 🤓
I love the look of the fountain pen, but never have been able to write with one.
I have several of these and love them! I love the fine nib best for using my hobonichis and work planners. I have a stub and a medium as well and the medium writes more like a broad in my opinion. I assumed Japanese nibs would be thinner but is not the case with these nibs.
Yes, I tried the Medium and was shocked at the jump in flow. 👀
My sister holds the pen the same way as you do. I haven’t fallen down the fountain pen rabbit hole yet, but this pen is gorgeous!
You don't hold the pen wrong. It's a different style. The "right" grip that you mention is called an active tripod grip. You use a lateral tripod grip. Not wrong, just different.
My grip is lateral quadropod so even farther from the "right" grip. All this to say, we don't need to worry about correcting our grip 😊
I love the springiness of the vp and decimo. The mechanism is so tactile. Safaris are amazing, but vp and decimo are great for something a little nicer
They are! Love your username!
I’m a lefty, and I hold my pens the exact same way!
I can't seem to find the link of where you got it. I've had my eye on the pen and to know I can get for 82-85 sounds like a good deal.
The link is in the description. There is one to my Amazon recommendations as well as the pen itself. 🤓
@@samplans it says the Link isn't avaliable.
I just clocked it and it was there. amzn.to/2Wor0Le
@@samplans thank you. 😊
I've wanted a vanishing point since I saw Jennifer Harvey's. I need to put it on my wish list.
Yellow safari is something else, I was absolutely stunned when I saw it in the store. VP is my grail pen so I really loved this video
What nib size did you get?
Me too....I got the purple...my favorite color. It was VERY expensive. But, I Love it...💜
That clip is seriously holding me back from buying the VP. I want it, bad, but man, what if I hate it LOL I'm going to the LA Pen Show next year, so I'll wait and see if I come across it, so I can try it out. I am not a fan of Lamy though, go figure. I don't like the look or the grip or even the nib. I just got a Moonman S3 and holy cow, I'm in love. The nib is the smoothest thing ever. The Jinhao 51A is really nice too, has a hooded nib that seriously reminds me of the VP one. I've come to the point where I'm more about the inks than the pens, because I already have a pretty solid collection.
I bought a China knockoff of it. Just to test it out. If I like the form factor, I might invest in one. Thanks for the video.
I love my VPs. I bought a fine, but it’s too fine for me, so I ordered a medium nib unit to replace it. I feel like there is a big jump between the fine and medium, though. I wish it was a little smaller. 🤣 Be careful with adjusting your nib on your own like that though. It voids any warranty you may have, so if you mess it up, you’ll have to buy a whole new nib unit. Enjoy!!! :)
Congrats on the new pen, Sam! The nib units are definitely pricey, I recommend checking out resale sites/groups and see if someone is willing to swap with you (I see swap requests fairly often!) You could also go through a nibmeister to grind your nib more to your preference 👍🏼 but that can be another investment (depending on who you choose). I waited so long to get my VP because I wasn't sure about the grip either, I ended up going to a pen show to hold one 🤣
Great review!
Have always wanted a Lamy but doubt I’ll be able to for a few years. Love your yellow one!
Nice review! Recently purchased my first hobonichi techo, because the Earthbound/Mother video game series designer, Shigesato Itoi, owns hobonichi techo. Anyway, i found out out they released a limited run “mother” edition pen, $160! Who the heck spends that kind of money on a pen. Watched a few reviews, and i’m convinced, maybe i can get onboard with fountain pens.
Wow! I didn’t know they had limited edition Mother pens! This hobby can get expensive for sure.
Do you have the EF or the F NIB? I cant say I heard you say that? Maybe I just missed it🙈
I also hold a pen weird but my pen rests on my ring finger and not my middle finger lol
That's how my grip is, too!
It works for me with the same grip as Christine!
Natalie Nicole thanks I was worried I wouldn’t be able to hold it well enough
That butterscotch color looks just like Bakelite. I like the design of this pen, but I’m sad that I missed the Twilight ombré limited edition, and I keep comparing everything else to that color.
Nope, your grip is not weird! I hold my pen the same way!! The tip of my thumb and the tip of my pointer finger touch!
9 more months and one...maybe 2 will be under my tree!! LOL!! Thank you for sharing!
The price of the Vanishing Point/Decimo depends on the nib you select. Gold nib plated is expensive. Alloy nib not as expensive. My Burgundy Decimo (more slender than the Vanishing Point) cost $145 at Goulet Pens and I find every excuse I can to write with it. It is that pleasant an experience. Diamine Oxblood and Diamine Red Dragon work superbly in it. Very wet inks for a very fine Japanese nib. This pen is all it is described as. The mechanism and the feel of the nib are nearly perfect. And I am left-handed.
It is a wonderful pen, although I’m not sure I’d want to go smaller, slim pens make my hand hurt.
Thank you so much for your video and link! These pens are around € 200 / $237 due to the gold nib I guess. I now ordered a dark blue alloy for half the prize including shipment!! Can’t wait!
Enjoy it!
i’ve realized that Japanese brands are finer than other nibs, making them drier with ink flow. my handwriting looks better with a EF or F nib. the difference between Lamy, Kaweco, Twsbi, and Pilot in just the EF or F nibs is insane!
In terms of my writing hold, I change it up depending on my mood.
I think that’s what I like most about fountain pens across different brands. I get to try them out and found out the quirks from pen to pen within a brand and even brand to brand. I thought your pen was a Decimo at first, but quite surprised that it’s not. That color is such a striking color.....but did you see they have a green version also? Not quite olive, maybe emerald...
That's a big NO for me if that's where the clip is...that would annoy me to write with that in the way. TFS
My husband doesn't write properly....in which I mean he didn't go to a catholic school and taught by nuns who would ruler your hands if you didn't hold your fountain pen properly....yes I was taught writing as a child using fountain pens...that's my it took me so long to give in and use them again.....nightmare city! LOL! Have a blessed day!
I notice now more than ever that lots of people have “wonky” grips when they write. It’s habit, and it can be changed. I’m just curious as to why. Maybe it’s because penmanship isn’t taught in school anymore. It was when I was a kid, and I clearly remember how you held your writing instrument was important, and if you weren’t doing it the “right” way, you would be corrected until you did it the way that was considered proper.
Yeah I don’t remember that. Mine certainly isn’t as wonky as others I’ve seen.
This was the very first fountain I got that was over $100 and I got it when I graduated from high school, unfortunately I lost the pen in my university after a year and I was devastated, the pen meant a lot to me and I haven’t told anybody that I lost it because it was a gift from my sister. I saved up the money now and reordered the pen again and I feel much more at ease now, I guess I’m a little biased when it comes to this pen but this has been the best fountain I have ever owned, it was smooth as butter compared to the other fountain pens I used before such as twsbi vac 700 and the 700r version, the lamy safari, the lamy lx, and some cheap fountain pens I get from other cities as souvenirs for myself.
Overall to me, the pilot vanishing point is totally worth it, I thought the clip would be annoying but in a way it is helpful to keep the pen straight since people who have no idea how to use a fountain pen can learn easier and it looks really professional in comparison to the other pens I mentioned.
Not so much about the pen here, rather a whole bunch about how you like to hold a pen.
We were taught Penmanship in grade school, that included how to use fountain pens and how to maintain them. Fountain pens were the only type of pen back then. I still remember seeing the first ballpoint pen commercials and how hard they tried to reassure purchasers that they were reliable. Bic shot theirs through a board then wrote with it. Still I'd rather write/draw with a fountain pen, that's how I was taught and how I enjoy using them. There is a certin satisfaction when one places a line on paper, that can only be achieved with a nib and ink. I don't question that a ballpoint is a more convenient writing tool, but it always comes back to the pleasure of writing doesn't it? So along comes the Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point. Convienence married to a fountain pen, I have a few, some for cartridge some for dipping and love them all for what I use them for. If you're looking for the ease of a ballpoint along with the beautiful writing of a fountain pen, purchase the Pilot VP. It's a beautifully made tool that works as well as any fountain pen that can be purchased today.
I've never purchased a vanishing point since FPs with converters and small ink capacity make me crazy.
That is one downside for sure. Thankfully I generally journal at home. 😅
Hmmm
I didn't think VP had a converters....
Beautiful pen!
I fear that I'm in the minority in the fountain pen community but I recently purchased Lamy Al Stars for myself and my partner and both of us were quite disappointed by how awful the medium nibs were. We both started off with Pilot Metropolitans and were genuinely taken aback by how a much more affordable pen could offer a superior pen. For this reason I think that if I ever invested in a gold nib pen it would likely be the vanshing point or one of the Custom series pens.
CrispyFrenFry I got a Lamy Al Star extra fine nib and was really upset about how scratchy it was. The tester at the store was smooth as butter so I think I had a bad lemon. I ended up using a nail buffer block to smooth out the tip and I’m much happier with the pen now. I have a pilot metropolitan but I can’t stand the grip section so I never use it.
personally i own a lamy safari in charcoal black, but looking at this pen because it being a japanese company and me being a leftie, the pen has less ink flowout compared to the lamy safari. i also love the idea of having a gold-nibbed fountain pen and i would probably be the one that is keen to take it all over the place minus the woodlands. id keep the safari for the woods.
I thinks that’s a great idea. The ink in the Fine goes quite a long time.
@@samplans i thought so as well. i decided to look at other pens for lefties, and i am really looking at the pilot custom 912, ideally the waverly nib due to me being a side writer. i did try to do some underwriting though to help prevent a lot of the smudging issues but my lines end up going up for some reason lol. another reason why i think i want to get the pilot custom is because i want to just sometimes stop and appreciate the pen, and appreciate the nib design/form. thank you for reviewing the VP though, it's very cool to see people review different variants of the pen!
I write like that. I’m a leftie though, we do some crazy things to be able to see our writing and not get ink all over the side of our hand.🙄
I tried holding the pen how you hold it and can't for the life of me keep a grip on it or write. LOL
Excellent video, except you do not have a Vanishing Point, you have a Capless. They are different pens - the Vanishing Point has a steel nib whereas the Vanishing Point nob is in gold - that is why they are less expensive. They are both excellent pens, but not the same as each other.
I just wanted to get your attention - I have now removed the dislike. While you linked to the correct item that you showed, it was not the same pen as the title of your video. The title is Pilot Vanishing Point and you mention it a number of times but the pen you link to is the Pilot Capless - it is a different pen and less expensive than the Vanishing Point because it has a different nib and it feels different to write with. It seems I am splitting hairs - to a fountain pen nerd like me it is an important point. Both pens are excellent though and in fact, I may well buy a Capless as I agree that the color you bought is really cool. Plus, I can probably swap out the nib!
@@samplans That person is wrong - the Capless and the Vanishing Point are the same pen. A number of Pilot pens are called different names in the US than elsewhere and this is one of them. What a huge fuss to make over something so trivial.
they are the same pen, just the naming and marketing is different in different markets. the thing to look out for is if it is special alloy nib or gold nib - both sold in Japanese and western markets.
Sold on the color when you said “retro” lol
Rght?!
Welcome to the VP fam!!! ^_^
Have not dove into the fountain pens PLEASE give me your advise on what you think my first fountain should be and cost really a problem when it comes to pens I will find the means. 😀😀😀
Sam Kelley what is twsbi
Special alloy nib? Junk compared to 18k gold nib unit
It’s priced accordingly…
My fav part was when you accurately reproduced granny asking about your birth defect hand writing style
Hahaha
If you are thinking about getting one, you are already past the point of no return.
It’s great and writes butter smooth. Do it. Treat yo self!
You’re absolutely right!
The Lamy is designed to encourage a person to grip the pen correctly. We developed our writing
style as children and carry it into adulthood. I am an older individual, and we learned handwriting
in school, and the teacher pressed for us to hold our fountain pens correctly. If she hadn't,
I would have gripped my pen in the same manner as you.
Theres a huge jump between fine and medium
I found my dads old pilot vanishing point , I did not know it was worth anything , was just blue and gold
Nice!
I have 2. I love them. It's my favorite fountain pen without question.
Your grip seems rather common in women. Concerning the pen; I’m still trying to decide on color. I’ve developed a severe case of analysis paralysis.
Thank you
I did enjoy your review, however I was very distracted by the amount of times you used 'like' in a sentence. I know you were probably thinking when you used them, nun-the-less it's a habit that you should 'like' change. I have three VP's and each one is a joy to use. The VP Fine and Medium nibs write broader than a usual Pilot nib with the same marking, I'm not so sure why that is. Enjoy your pens.
@@samplans Many look at critisizem as an opportunity to grow.
I’m filled with envy ( because it’s not available for less than 200 USD here in India ) and guilt ( because I finally pulled the trigger after obsessing over it ) !
Oh yay! Enjoy!
I've been on the fence to getting this pen. The whole clicking thing just seems like a gimmick for me. The whole clip is a bit of a turn off for me.
The click idea is so one can use the pen one-handed; sometimes caps are lost or people forget to put them back on.
My dream pen which costs more than $200 in India !
Phanx!
I'd love to see pilot release stand alone frixion ink thats just a little thinner or something to work in fountain pens. nobody has ever made erasable fountain pen inks (that i know of at least)
Sam Kelley
I think I’m gonna order a bunch of refills and see if I can harvest the ink from them and just try it on a cheap pen like a preppy or a metropolitan since that has a converter. Worse case scenario it’s an excuse to buy another one lol
I value your obsessiveness
You could have gone to a pen show instead of agonizing over this.
lol. No pen shows anywhere near me.
I did the same.
Thumb over the clip looks cumbersome.
Good review, but too much talking. Cut to the point and reduce 17 minutes to 8 minutes.
@@samplans You'll lose interest from viewers, not much people will watch for 17 minutes with side chat. Don't want this to be to long, but just saying.