This one-year-later type review is superb. The info and opinions are richer and more certain after a nice long usage period. Thanks, and I hope you keep it up.
Thank you so much for this, Karyna! I hope to see more of these both here in your channel and the fountain pen community. I really value hearing about wet/dry nibs and nib sizing and as you pointed out staining in these white pens. Unboxings are fun because of the excitement but having a better understanding of how these pens worked and didn’t for someone is very valuable.
Thank you! I have a few more of these to do, scheduled for the rest of the year. An update on Sailor (PG and PGS), an update on the Pilot VP, update on the Leonardo MZG. Glad this was helpful!
I recall leaving a comment on another of your videos about the M400 and how i love the nib so much that I will just adjust my grip in order to make it more comfortable to use. Ha! That worked for a while...until I participated in 30 inks/30 days and spent a lot more time with the pen. I too, ended up selling mine along with 4 other pens that just didnt make the cut. I'm sad that pens that used to be fine for me were 'ruined' during "30 inks/30 days". However, I did discover my actual 'grail pen' that is the most comfortable for me, and after selling those pens I have a lot more money in my hobby fund now. Not a bad thing!
Hi Karyna, I have the M400 like yours and really love the fine nib on it and enjoy using it. I don't have tiny hands but not huge hands either and it fits well for me, but I also have no other Pelikan pens to compare it to either, so this was good to hear your thoughts on each one of them. Thank you and have a lovely day/evening :)
Yes, the nib is amazing on the Pelikans! If you like the size of the Estie, you will love the size of an M600 or M800. Definitely need to try one at your next pen meetup!
Love reviews like this. I've found that I love big pens, but ergonomically, the M400 series is a near perfect size, and importantly, weight. A light, nimble pen just works better for me compared to the heavier weight of larger pens. So, I've actually gone in the opposite direction to your own journey, where I have a lot of bigger pens, and then I gravitated towards pens specifically that are lighter and have smaller grip section diameters.
I have tiny hands so smaller pens have always fit in my hands better. I have several m205s and I love them but I wanted to upgrade a bit so I decided I'm going to buy the m405 for myself for Christmas. I really wanted the white one but staining is something that worries me and would really bother me. I've asked others with white Pelikans about staining and basically everyone except one said they've never had issues with it so idk. Pelikan is releasing an M200 in copper and white with rose gold accents so I think I'll be buying that one once it releases just to try one out that isn't as expensive as the M400/405 before I take the plunge on getting one in white. The blue/black one is so pretty too so I will be getting that anyways. I LOVE shimmer inks so so much so I'm so happy to hear that shimmer inks work well in Pelikans! I've got a few and I've been way too scared to use them in mine! I'll have to be brave and try them sometime hearing that yours worked well. Thank you so much for your year in review on these pens, I really liked hearing your thoughts on these two pens.
Glad this was so helpful! Yes, staining is going to be inevitable with white resins - my Sailor PG is all stained around the grip and I can't get it out! But yes, shimmer worked well in my Pelikans because they are so wet and the nibs are generally broader than regular nibs.
Aren't the sailor fountain pens just as small or even smaller than the Pelikan M400 and M605? How do they compare and are they just as hard to write with for you?
I have the m205 pens and my Sailor PGSs are about the same size. I have tiny hands (so small I picked up the nickname "baby hands" at work 😅) so I find them to fit fine in my hands and they're very comfortable for me, but like I said, I have tiny hands lol. My Sailor PGSs and my Pelikan M205s are my favorite pens I have currently, I don't have any pens more expensive than those though, so perhaps that's why. I do have larger pens like the TWSBI Eco and that pen is almost too large for me, personally. So comfort is entirely on the size of your hand
I really like this video! I have both pens, but they are too small and too lightweight for me. I think those pens are made for people with REALLY small hands, and the nibs are also too stiff for me - I think that has to do with the form - all in all, the perfect pen for me is the M800 - it was actually crowned as the overall best pen of the world, because of size, form factor, and size - I have also an M805 Stresemann with a rhodium plated nib and that pen is the best of all. I have one M1000 in green, it is just a little too big, but the quality and the way it writes are fantastic, I would recommend them anytime. Thank you for the interesting video!
@@KarynaLovesToPlan I am also sure it will be too big. For most "normal" hands the largest possible fountain pens are the Sailor 1911 large, the Montblanc 146 Le Grand, and maybe the Namiki Yukari Royal, this last one should be the largest possible. Anything made by Danitrio, the same as the M1000, the MB 149, or the Namiki Emperor, is just out of the question.
Hi Karyna - you've got those long fingernails. I can see your nails are making your fingers bend back too much holding the pens. I find that I am more comfortable with a narrower pen, or a Lamy Safari, if I have my nails trimmed way down. And freshly-trimmed nails feel so good!
Thanks for that! Don’t think I will be trimming the nails all the way back 😁. I do enjoy a good manicure. But even before the manicure these pens felt a bit too narrow.
Oh stop it. The 605 is already big enough for most people. It's also not top heavy like the m800. For me personally, Sailor nibs take the cake. A touch less smooth, but extremely precise and most importantly, reliable.
I don't know why UA-cam is filled with these nerdy reviews. There is no sense of direction in the video. No idea who the audience is. This is exactly like a spaghetti western; even the producer does not know what he's doing or even familiar with the right content. A review should be a simple revisit, explaining the pros and cons of something in a very simple way that is easy to understand and covers the basics.
Thank you for your feedback and engaging with my video, thereby increasing the chances of the algorithm working with my channel. I share these reviews from a user experience, and unlike you, there are many others who appreciate these reviews. And the audience is for those who are proud to be a pen nerd like me. These may not be for you, and that's okay. You may want something simpler, while others appreciate a more in depth experience. Have a wonderful day!
@@KarynaLovesToPlan on one hand, you are thanking me for my efforts to promote your content and on the other, you are sidelineing me from your "other" ideal viewers? How selfish of you. I was eager to watch the video to get an insight from a year old user of this fountain pen, but instead, all i got was directionless uttering of words. Maybe change the title to more nerdy terminologies so only those "others" can appreciate it.
Wow, did I say "ideal viewers"? I said that there are others who appreciate these reviews, and if you're not one of them, that's okay. There is plenty of content on UA-cam that you may enjoy, and I may not be that for you. It sounds like you've already made a judgment and assumption about me without even watching the video. The review I've done provide answers to questions that I've had asked of me after I've used the pen for a year. What type of review were you looking for? And you use the term "nerdy" in a condescending manner. There are many of us in this fountain pen community, with various reviews and ways of using pens. Not all of us fit into one mold which is a great thing. I'm happy to continue making content that I'm comfortable with and that my viewers seem to enjoy. If that is not for you, that is okay, too. Have a great day, and I hope you find joy in your day!
@@KarynaLovesToPlan Hey Karyna! None of what you state is true. I did watch the whole video. In fact twice in the last two days! Nerdy reference was to imply someone who knows a lot more in-depth about something unlike me; an amateur in this world. The review I was looking for and what I was implying by saying a Basic, simple review, was that it covered the basic aspects for amateurs, as nerds or aficionados, are already familiar with everything related to this iconic piece. How would a year long update benefit them? At least that was my initial thought. Lastly, Its your channel and you are entitled to do whatever you like. But I am also entitled to comment my views, or concerns in this regard. I would also like to apologise for hurting you in any manner as that absolutely was not the intention. Please don't take it personally and forgive me if I hurt you but this was only related to the review and in no way was targeted towards you or your personality. More power to you and keep on making these videos however so you like! But I do hope that and some point, you'll consider a "basic" review for an amateur like me! Have a wonderful day!
Thank you for the reply. I see what you mean - I do have a more basic review of these pens, titled under "New Pen Day", and I don't like to call them reviews because I have not had enough experience with them to be able to give enough of a critique. In those videos, I give the weight of the pen, compare the size of the pen to other pens, do a writing sample. Is that maybe what you are looking for? The "year later" reviews are looking at more in-depth experiences I've had with a pen, but that is something to think about - adding some of the basics to these reviews. Or at least adding a link to my original new pen day unboxings. I do want to help everyone who has questions about fountain pens, and I am happy to help answer any questions. I was an amateur too (and sometimes still feel like a newbie). Sometimes, the way we type things online can be misconstrued or our tone can seem a bit more harsh than we intend. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
This one-year-later type review is superb. The info and opinions are richer and more certain after a nice long usage period. Thanks, and I hope you keep it up.
Glad it was helpful! I hope to do more in the future!
Thank you so much for this, Karyna! I hope to see more of these both here in your channel and the fountain pen community. I really value hearing about wet/dry nibs and nib sizing and as you pointed out staining in these white pens. Unboxings are fun because of the excitement but having a better understanding of how these pens worked and didn’t for someone is very valuable.
Thank you! I have a few more of these to do, scheduled for the rest of the year. An update on Sailor (PG and PGS), an update on the Pilot VP, update on the Leonardo MZG. Glad this was helpful!
I recall leaving a comment on another of your videos about the M400 and how i love the nib so much that I will just adjust my grip in order to make it more comfortable to use. Ha! That worked for a while...until I participated in 30 inks/30 days and spent a lot more time with the pen. I too, ended up selling mine along with 4 other pens that just didnt make the cut. I'm sad that pens that used to be fine for me were 'ruined' during "30 inks/30 days". However, I did discover my actual 'grail pen' that is the most comfortable for me, and after selling those pens I have a lot more money in my hobby fund now. Not a bad thing!
I wouldn’t call them ruined - this whole fountain pen hobby is a journey as we acquire and try more, we find what works for us.
This was a great review and very helpful. I hope to see more!
Glad it was helpful! I hope to do more in the future!
Hi Karyna, I have the M400 like yours and really love the fine nib on it and enjoy using it. I don't have tiny hands but not huge hands either and it fits well for me, but I also have no other Pelikan pens to compare it to either, so this was good to hear your thoughts on each one of them. Thank you and have a lovely day/evening :)
Yes, the nib is amazing on the Pelikans! If you like the size of the Estie, you will love the size of an M600 or M800. Definitely need to try one at your next pen meetup!
Love reviews like this. I've found that I love big pens, but ergonomically, the M400 series is a near perfect size, and importantly, weight. A light, nimble pen just works better for me compared to the heavier weight of larger pens. So, I've actually gone in the opposite direction to your own journey, where I have a lot of bigger pens, and then I gravitated towards pens specifically that are lighter and have smaller grip section diameters.
how fun, I still haven't purchased a Pelikan. thinking about it
I highly recommend them. They are pricier and not for everyone but if you get a chance to try one in person, I suggest you do!
Love this format!
Thank you! More to come!
I love the color way of the M400. Wish they made a M800 in that color. I'm like you though and do not like small pens.
If they did that I'd be in trouble! It's so pretty
Thanks for the review! Btw. what nail polish are you wearing? It's absolutely stunning!!
It’s a chrome finish from my salon. Thank you!
@@KarynaLovesToPlanI see! I thought those are probably salon nails, but still had to ask nonetheless. 😍💚
I have tiny hands so smaller pens have always fit in my hands better. I have several m205s and I love them but I wanted to upgrade a bit so I decided I'm going to buy the m405 for myself for Christmas. I really wanted the white one but staining is something that worries me and would really bother me. I've asked others with white Pelikans about staining and basically everyone except one said they've never had issues with it so idk. Pelikan is releasing an M200 in copper and white with rose gold accents so I think I'll be buying that one once it releases just to try one out that isn't as expensive as the M400/405 before I take the plunge on getting one in white. The blue/black one is so pretty too so I will be getting that anyways.
I LOVE shimmer inks so so much so I'm so happy to hear that shimmer inks work well in Pelikans! I've got a few and I've been way too scared to use them in mine! I'll have to be brave and try them sometime hearing that yours worked well.
Thank you so much for your year in review on these pens, I really liked hearing your thoughts on these two pens.
Glad this was so helpful! Yes, staining is going to be inevitable with white resins - my Sailor PG is all stained around the grip and I can't get it out!
But yes, shimmer worked well in my Pelikans because they are so wet and the nibs are generally broader than regular nibs.
Aren't the sailor fountain pens just as small or even smaller than the Pelikan M400 and M605? How do they compare and are they just as hard to write with for you?
The ProGear Slim is similar in size to the M400 and comfort level is about the same for me. I can certainly do a review of my Sailors in the future.
I have the m205 pens and my Sailor PGSs are about the same size. I have tiny hands (so small I picked up the nickname "baby hands" at work 😅) so I find them to fit fine in my hands and they're very comfortable for me, but like I said, I have tiny hands lol. My Sailor PGSs and my Pelikan M205s are my favorite pens I have currently, I don't have any pens more expensive than those though, so perhaps that's why. I do have larger pens like the TWSBI Eco and that pen is almost too large for me, personally. So comfort is entirely on the size of your hand
I really like this video!
I have both pens, but they are too small and too lightweight for me. I think those pens are made for people with REALLY small hands, and the nibs are also too stiff for me - I think that has to do with the form - all in all, the perfect pen for me is the M800 - it was actually crowned as the overall best pen of the world, because of size, form factor, and size - I have also an M805 Stresemann with a rhodium plated nib and that pen is the best of all. I have one M1000 in green, it is just a little too big, but the quality and the way it writes are fantastic, I would recommend them anytime.
Thank you for the interesting video!
I've got to try an M1000 just to round out the experience... but I think it would be too big! Thanks for watching!
@@KarynaLovesToPlan I am also sure it will be too big. For most "normal" hands the largest possible fountain pens are the Sailor 1911 large, the Montblanc 146 Le Grand, and maybe the Namiki Yukari Royal, this last one should be the largest possible. Anything made by Danitrio, the same as the M1000, the MB 149, or the Namiki Emperor, is just out of the question.
I would prefer the M800 bcz of its size and that classic green is gorgeous. 😊
So far, wanting to write with the M800 every day! Love it so much!
Hi Karyna - you've got those long fingernails. I can see your nails are making your fingers bend back too much holding the pens. I find that I am more comfortable with a narrower pen, or a Lamy Safari, if I have my nails trimmed way down. And freshly-trimmed nails feel so good!
Thanks for that! Don’t think I will be trimming the nails all the way back 😁. I do enjoy a good manicure. But even before the manicure these pens felt a bit too narrow.
❤❤❤
Oh stop it. The 605 is already big enough for most people. It's also not top heavy like the m800. For me personally, Sailor nibs take the cake. A touch less smooth, but extremely precise and most importantly, reliable.
Absolutely, the 605 is perfect for most people. It's not at all a bad pen, it's just too small for me personally.
So you like holding larger pipe shaped objects in your hands. Got it.
I don't know why UA-cam is filled with these nerdy reviews. There is no sense of direction in the video. No idea who the audience is. This is exactly like a spaghetti western; even the producer does not know what he's doing or even familiar with the right content. A review should be a simple revisit, explaining the pros and cons of something in a very simple way that is easy to understand and covers the basics.
Thank you for your feedback and engaging with my video, thereby increasing the chances of the algorithm working with my channel.
I share these reviews from a user experience, and unlike you, there are many others who appreciate these reviews. And the audience is for those who are proud to be a pen nerd like me.
These may not be for you, and that's okay. You may want something simpler, while others appreciate a more in depth experience.
Have a wonderful day!
@@KarynaLovesToPlan on one hand, you are thanking me for my efforts to promote your content and on the other, you are sidelineing me from your "other" ideal viewers? How selfish of you.
I was eager to watch the video to get an insight from a year old user of this fountain pen, but instead, all i got was directionless uttering of words. Maybe change the title to more nerdy terminologies so only those "others" can appreciate it.
Wow, did I say "ideal viewers"? I said that there are others who appreciate these reviews, and if you're not one of them, that's okay. There is plenty of content on UA-cam that you may enjoy, and I may not be that for you.
It sounds like you've already made a judgment and assumption about me without even watching the video. The review I've done provide answers to questions that I've had asked of me after I've used the pen for a year. What type of review were you looking for?
And you use the term "nerdy" in a condescending manner. There are many of us in this fountain pen community, with various reviews and ways of using pens. Not all of us fit into one mold which is a great thing.
I'm happy to continue making content that I'm comfortable with and that my viewers seem to enjoy. If that is not for you, that is okay, too.
Have a great day, and I hope you find joy in your day!
@@KarynaLovesToPlan Hey Karyna!
None of what you state is true. I did watch the whole video. In fact twice in the last two days!
Nerdy reference was to imply someone who knows a lot more in-depth about something unlike me; an amateur in this world. The review I was looking for and what I was implying by saying a Basic, simple review, was that it covered the basic aspects for amateurs, as nerds or aficionados, are already familiar with everything related to this iconic piece. How would a year long update benefit them? At least that was my initial thought.
Lastly, Its your channel and you are entitled to do whatever you like. But I am also entitled to comment my views, or concerns in this regard.
I would also like to apologise for hurting you in any manner as that absolutely was not the intention. Please don't take it personally and forgive me if I hurt you but this was only related to the review and in no way was targeted towards you or your personality.
More power to you and keep on making these videos however so you like!
But I do hope that and some point, you'll consider a "basic" review for an amateur like me!
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you for the reply. I see what you mean - I do have a more basic review of these pens, titled under "New Pen Day", and I don't like to call them reviews because I have not had enough experience with them to be able to give enough of a critique. In those videos, I give the weight of the pen, compare the size of the pen to other pens, do a writing sample. Is that maybe what you are looking for?
The "year later" reviews are looking at more in-depth experiences I've had with a pen, but that is something to think about - adding some of the basics to these reviews. Or at least adding a link to my original new pen day unboxings.
I do want to help everyone who has questions about fountain pens, and I am happy to help answer any questions. I was an amateur too (and sometimes still feel like a newbie). Sometimes, the way we type things online can be misconstrued or our tone can seem a bit more harsh than we intend.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.