I love the Prera, and I have multiples of it. I actually prefer the look of the solid-color ones over the clear demonstrators. I consider it a pocket pen, but on the larger scale of them. It is a few millimeters shorter than the Sailor Pro Gear Slim when closed and about a centimeter shorter when both are posted. I wouldn't consider the Prera a starter pen because of the price, unless you find it cheaper than retail. I would go for the Kakuno for a beginner, maybe even an Explorer. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Metro, but a lot of people like it. Bonus: The nibs on the Prera, Kakuno, Explorer, Plumix, Penmanship and Metropolitan are interchangeable.
Exactly my thoughts! I really enjoy the Prera because it fits well in my smaller hands. Could see it being too small for some. The Con-40 thing applies to so many Pilot pens. Another benefit of recommending the Kakuno is the possibility of putting in a Con70 if the person likes it and wants better ink capacity. I wish Pilot offered a broad nib for their steel nib pens!
The Prera is one of the first fountain pens I purchased. Over here, they cost about US$25, give or take, depending on the exchange rate. They also come with a converter. I got mine with a solid color, as the demonstrators, if you can find them, are more expensive. Mine is a slate grey, and I really like this color. For a steel nib, now that I have tried other fountain pens, I find it very smooth, even though mine is a nib. I have never had problems with it. It lays down ink consistently, never hard-starting, never skips. And even though I am a rather light-writer, I do not even have to put much pressure on the nib, and the writing still comes out very clearly (of course, depending on the ink color - so I use darker inks). In fact, I was so impressed with it that I decided to get another one of a different color. Regarding the cap, I also do not have problems, although I noticed that after 5 years, it makes less of a click. However, the cap remains quite secure. It is also one of my shortest pens, so if I need to carry a pen in my shirt pocket, this would be it.
Very nice review! Pilot Prera confirms the company reputation: Absolutely reliable and consistent. I've bought one F and one M, both transparent, and just ordered a "more classy" brown one. it's a cheap great pen. And for me quite beautiful too.
I have never had a Prera. This is an interesting pen. I don't think I ever had a Pilot with a steel nib, either. I have seen that Pilot has at least one other steel tip pen, being the Kakuno. The interest I have had has been that you can swap nibs, something that you cannot do with the gold nib pens (at least for most of us and Pilot voids any warranty if you attempt to rove the gold nib). The unfortunate thing is that you have to buy another pen to get a replacement nib 😔. Very good review, Garry.
Thanks. The pen is growing on me as I use it more, but I currently can't see it replacing my Kaweco Sports as my pocket carries. I have a Metropolitan as well. I think I'll need to look at see if I can get a suitable Broad nib for it.
The Kakuno, Metropolitan, Explorer, and Prera all use the same nibs which are interchangeable. I believe Prera uses a different feed than the others, but the nibs fit regardless.
I love my Prera’s: mine are demonstrators with translucent blue top and bottom and I swapped out the nibs for EF’s as I’ve got small handwriting; I know the con40 only partially fills but if that’s an issue just use a syringe and you can swap out the nibs with nibs from Pilot metropolitan, pluminix, kaküno, 78g+ and DPP70 so you’ve got a choice of EF, F, M, cursive fine and cursive medium (these write like stub nibs which allow a bit of line variation:)
I have two Pilot Preras and they are great writers. I prefer the ones with the solid-colored bodies, which have less graphics on them and so look a bit nicer. I would agree with others who feel this is on the larger side of the pocket pen category. I would not consider it a beginner pen, as Pilot has the Metropolitan, the Kakuno, and the Explorer (an underrated pen in my opinion) for that market . Even the Pilot Plumix nibs are exchangeable with these models.
Thanks. I already have a Metropolitan, and as some others have suggested I will look out for a Kakuno - maybe next time I order from Cult Pens I'll sneak one into the basket, and hope the wife does not notice.
I think I try to purchase all pens that are Pilot so this is one that's been on my list. May I ask where you purchase your pen rests? I keep looking and I do not see them anywhere like the ones you have. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, I was wondering if I should get the Prera for my second pen. I understand it's the same nib as the Kakuno, which I already have in medium nib. I like it well enough, but I don't have a reference point, since it's my first pen. I feel like it's a bit too light for me. It's hard to control. I might also prefer Fine nib. I recently tried ordering a Jinhao x159 Fine nib for about $10, because it's all the rage, but it'll take a few weeks to get here. I love the cherry ink, by the way.
Different body, but basically the same nib - they are interchangeable, just stamped differently. As for the grip, the Kakuno has a slight triangular feel (not as much as a LAMY Safari) and the Prera is round.
I love the Prera, and I have multiples of it. I actually prefer the look of the solid-color ones over the clear demonstrators.
I consider it a pocket pen, but on the larger scale of them. It is a few millimeters shorter than the Sailor Pro Gear Slim when closed and about a centimeter shorter when both are posted.
I wouldn't consider the Prera a starter pen because of the price, unless you find it cheaper than retail. I would go for the Kakuno for a beginner, maybe even an Explorer. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Metro, but a lot of people like it.
Bonus: The nibs on the Prera, Kakuno, Explorer, Plumix, Penmanship and Metropolitan are interchangeable.
Exactly my thoughts! I really enjoy the Prera because it fits well in my smaller hands. Could see it being too small for some. The Con-40 thing applies to so many Pilot pens. Another benefit of recommending the Kakuno is the possibility of putting in a Con70 if the person likes it and wants better ink capacity. I wish Pilot offered a broad nib for their steel nib pens!
Thanks. I've got a ProGear slim, so I've added a future video idea to compare Kaweco Sport, Prera and Pro gear slim. Not sure when it will be though.
The Prera is one of the first fountain pens I purchased. Over here, they cost about US$25, give or take, depending on the exchange rate. They also come with a converter. I got mine with a solid color, as the demonstrators, if you can find them, are more expensive. Mine is a slate grey, and I really like this color. For a steel nib, now that I have tried other fountain pens, I find it very smooth, even though mine is a nib. I have never had problems with it. It lays down ink consistently, never hard-starting, never skips. And even though I am a rather light-writer, I do not even have to put much pressure on the nib, and the writing still comes out very clearly (of course, depending on the ink color - so I use darker inks). In fact, I was so impressed with it that I decided to get another one of a different color. Regarding the cap, I also do not have problems, although I noticed that after 5 years, it makes less of a click. However, the cap remains quite secure. It is also one of my shortest pens, so if I need to carry a pen in my shirt pocket, this would be it.
This pen is slowly growing on me. I've now swapped it with my Kaweco Sport as my daily pocket carry pen.
Very nice review!
Pilot Prera confirms the company reputation: Absolutely reliable and consistent.
I've bought one F and one M, both transparent, and just ordered a "more classy" brown one.
it's a cheap great pen. And for me quite beautiful too.
I have never had a Prera. This is an interesting pen. I don't think I ever had a Pilot with a steel nib, either.
I have seen that Pilot has at least one other steel tip pen, being the Kakuno. The interest I have had has been that you can swap nibs, something that you cannot do with the gold nib pens (at least for most of us and Pilot voids any warranty if you attempt to rove the gold nib). The unfortunate thing is that you have to buy another pen to get a replacement nib 😔.
Very good review, Garry.
Thanks.
The pen is growing on me as I use it more, but I currently can't see it replacing my Kaweco Sports as my pocket carries.
I have a Metropolitan as well. I think I'll need to look at see if I can get a suitable Broad nib for it.
The Kakuno, Metropolitan, Explorer, and Prera all use the same nibs which are interchangeable. I believe Prera uses a different feed than the others, but the nibs fit regardless.
I love my Prera’s: mine are demonstrators with translucent blue top and bottom and I swapped out the nibs for EF’s as I’ve got small handwriting; I know the con40 only partially fills but if that’s an issue just use a syringe and you can swap out the nibs with nibs from Pilot metropolitan, pluminix, kaküno, 78g+ and DPP70 so you’ve got a choice of EF, F, M, cursive fine and cursive medium (these write like stub nibs which allow a bit of line variation:)
Thanks.
It will be nice to play around with different nib sizes.
I have two Pilot Preras and they are great writers. I prefer the ones with the solid-colored bodies, which have less graphics on them and so look a bit nicer. I would agree with others who feel this is on the larger side of the pocket pen category. I would not consider it a beginner pen, as Pilot has the Metropolitan, the Kakuno, and the Explorer (an underrated pen in my opinion) for that market . Even the Pilot Plumix nibs are exchangeable with these models.
Thanks. I already have a Metropolitan, and as some others have suggested I will look out for a Kakuno - maybe next time I order from Cult Pens I'll sneak one into the basket, and hope the wife does not notice.
I have two: a fine and a medium. I think they are really good pens, although the Con40 converter is a letdown where ink capacity is concerned.
I've already written out the initial ink. I've just refilled it with Diamine Eau de Nil.
If it grows on me I may look at eyedroppering the pen.
I think I try to purchase all pens that are Pilot so this is one that's been on my list. May I ask where you purchase your pen rests? I keep looking and I do not see them anywhere like the ones you have. Thank you for sharing.
I bought them a couple of yeats ago from an online store hee in Australia. I think it was fountainpensupplies.com.au - but that is just from memory
@@GarryEves Thank you!
Thanks, I was wondering if I should get the Prera for my second pen. I understand it's the same nib as the Kakuno, which I already have in medium nib. I like it well enough, but I don't have a reference point, since it's my first pen. I feel like it's a bit too light for me. It's hard to control. I might also prefer Fine nib. I recently tried ordering a Jinhao x159 Fine nib for about $10, because it's all the rage, but it'll take a few weeks to get here. I love the cherry ink, by the way.
I have no experience with the Kakuno so can't compare it. I have it on my list for a future purchase so I can do those comparisons.
Wonder if you have a Pilot Kakuno, and if so, how does that compare to the Prera? Good video, thanks.
Different body, but basically the same nib - they are interchangeable, just stamped differently.
As for the grip, the Kakuno has a slight triangular feel (not as much as a LAMY Safari) and the Prera is round.
Thanks. It's a pen I have on my "to-buy" list. I think I need to invest in one at some time in the future.
The Prera has the coolest process when it is capped, it almost sucks it into place. Very clean.
I do like the way the cap goes on and iff. How does it last in the long term?
@@GarryEves yeah. Mine has never stopped doing it and I have seen other reviewers mention the same.
i had to subscribe right away gary because we have the same interests clearly lmfao
Great to have you along.
$70? Wow! I feel sorry for you Down Under. Here in the States, Amazon has these for just $25.
Most things are a lot more in Aus. I think its mainly due to transport and import costs.