Sir please look up "Rhinophyma." It's treatable, you're still young, and it's not so bad right now. The more you wait for treatment, the worse and bumpier it's going to get. Go to your local family doctor or just any physician for treatment❤️ Also Hey! Thanks for the video! I like the al-star and the vista, but the cap on my vista is starting to show signs of cracks... So that sucks! Maybe one day I'll try the LX =)
I like to think that what will happen to Lamy, will be good. Although it all remains to be seen, the fact it's owned by a Japanese firm speaks positively in regards to maintaining or improving production quality.
I love your enthusiasm for this pen. It really is that good! I got my first in charcoal, and turned around to order the Vista for fun. I’m getting other colors for fun too. My heir will appreciate getting all my fountain pens!
In Germany You are supposed to write with fountain pens in the elementary and middle school. I hated it and was very happy when I was allowed to switch to whatever I wanted in high school. But now, 15 years after finishing school I am baack to ink. I started with a safari because of the design.
Funny how that is the story for so many people. I also switched to smth else (also Germany) as soon as I was allowed - and now being 48 I go back to a fountain pen because the writing feeling and look is just nicer.
Same in Argentina in the 90s! I had to use fountain pen and was desperate to switch to ballpoint because I have clammy hands and I made a mess. Now as a 37 year old I bought a Lamy and I’m obsessed 😂
Lamy could make some real waves in the calligraphy market by coming up with an optional or included stand for their Joy model, transforming it into a classic desk pen with Safari-like design and handling characteristics. Switching to one of their regular fine or medium nib would make it equally suitable as a desk pen for everyday cursive writing.
Thank you for this. I am a beginner fountain pen user. I have dyspraxia I did not know about any grip and my hand writing was atrocious. When I bought the Lamy Safari my handwriting improve dramatically. It was like night and day and I did not have to make any effort. From then on I just learn the tripod grip. I do find I like the Al-Star as I think it ground you. Having a fountain made me like writing, would like to improve writing and it gives me so much joy.
What a great review! This is clearly from someone who actually used and enjoyed these pens. It is really refreshing to see this type of review on UA-cam, where it isn't just for the sake of making a video.
Great video. I have just got into fountain pens so bought a Safari and an AL Star - both are great. I bought one with a fine nib and one medium but it turns out that I prefer a fine nib so I just switched it out today. I like the feel of them, the colour choice, that everything is interchangeable and that they are easy to use right out of the box.
I'm in university, but I'm still using the Lamy nexx that I got in primary school (I'm from Germany, learning to write with a fountain pen was mandatory). I love it, but it has taken quite a beating during that time (for example, I don't even know since when the plastic clip is missing). I also only learned recently that there are different nibs, so I'm still on the beginner's nib. I think I'll get a Safari or an AL-Star soon, they seem really nice.
The Safari is one you can’t go wrong with. If you don’t want color, the Vista writes exactly the same. I’m absolutely in love with these. I just added a Cosy Cream and Aqua Sky to my budding collection. 🩵💙
I've had issues with other fountain pens because the ink flow is always too wet, or the grip sections don't fit my grip (i'm left handed), Lamy has always been just perfect for me since the grip is js perfect, and the flow is perf
OMG. I was thinking AL-star was All-Star, Thank you for letting me know that "AL" is for aluminum. On a whim, I wanted a fountain pen and picked out the Lamy AL star in the Fiery color. It's fantastic. These are such a far cry better from ones I tried decades ago. The design is awesome. At some point when I use up the set of cartridges I bought, I want to switch to a converter and use some of the interesting colors available from the bottles.
12:31... Amazon Canada price differences are: $44.oo Lamy Safari (matte black) Medium nib $38.oo Lamy Vista (clear body) Fine nib I got each , and switched out the Medium nib from L.Safari into the Lamy Vista clear body, Now it's a Perfect Fountain Pen..lol
The lamy nexx is very under-appreciated, it doesn't look like these main ones on the outside but the actual feed and the nib are the same, the grips is the same too but rubberised, a lot more comfortable
Thanks! Fun Review… interesting to note that all the pens notes are effective a Safari at the guts level… mean nib, feed cartridge or Converter are all the same. AND this goes for the Lamy Studio as well. The studio is a more conventional looking fountain pen with its beautiful and sleek aluminium body… but it’s still a Volkswagen under the skin,, I mean a Safari…. Using that car analogy….buy a VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda and I am sure others… open the bonnet… look at the engine, and there are the VW or Audi logos all over the place. Same with the LAMY… the train JUST WORKS and works well and it’s well engineered.
I'm thinking of buying the LX, safari and aster of paker have been champs for me for more than a year. So I for an upgrade and I'm saving for one and now I have saved enough of my pocket money to buy LX. Though I'm not going to spend all of it towards a pen of cource! I've saved about $180.75 or 15,000 rupees. Thanks for this amazing comparison, it made my mind clear for which is a better option!!!
I have a yellow Safari, and it is a good pen for the money; certainly better than the low priced Sheaffer cartridge pens we used in elementary school. I would suggest that if you think the Lamy pens in the video are what Lamy does best, you need to cast your eyes toward the vintage fountain pen market. Look for a Lamy 2000, or if you are really lucky, you may find a Lamy Persona. I haven't been following the fountain pen market for the last 10 years or so, but the 2000 is a great pen at $CAN200 or so when I bought mine, and a Persona is a lot more than that, but worth every penny.
The only pen that I can write at all nicely with is the Joy. I am thinking of buying a couple of LX pens to swap the Joy 1.5mm nibs into, so I can have nice handwriting without using a big weird chunk of plastic.
3:44 You can actually eyedropper it. Switch the barrel with the Vista rollerblading barrel and then glue the breather hole in the back of the barrel. Also you can take a extra rubber o ring to fit between the barrel and the grip and you should be good.
The Joy is also available in a box version with two additional fronts (?) with two different nibs attached so you can super quickly change them. That version is a nice package.
I have the Marron LX. It has a beautiful metal fennel and it certainly has a larger diameter than my wife’s Safaris. Replaced the black nib with the Lamy gold nib. Very elegant, fine writing and for not a premium price.
I have read a lot of whining reviews about the LX from people who clearly have no idea about manufacturing. They don't seem to realise how much more time it takes to make seemingly minor changes. As a watch enthusiast it took a while for me to appreciate the nuances of finishing and how time-consuming and expensive this seemingly straightforward aspect of production can get. An increase of $20 doesn't get you much of an improvement to most things I strongly suspect that Lamy are offering this for a very good price. .
I have the Joy and I really like it because I use these for calligraphy. I think that the only reason for the different body is to somewhat imitate the shape of traditional dip pens, but I still really like it. Only complaint I have is that the widest nib you can get is 1.9mm I think, which kinda limits the types of calligraphy you can do, but it's still a super cool pen, nothing wrong with it otherwise.
9:57 I'm not sure what you mean here. I can see on the product listings that the Joy has a chisel-tip nib, while the others have regular point nibs. Sure it might be compatible with other Lamys, and you can buy the nibs on their own, but it does come with a different nib.
Looking on Goldspot, the options are medium nib and two choices of stub nibs. The pen by itself doesn't automatically come with stub nibs. They do sell a boxed set with different nibs inside, but it seems to be a more deluxe version of the pen.
I don't know precisely, but doing a quick search, I got an AI answer that said between 1,500 and 5,000 words. I think that's probably accurate. Your mileage will vary depending on what nib your write with, a bold nib will use more ink than a fine, etc. Some pens may write a little wetter, giving you different results. And some cartridges are longer, and thus have a larger capacity.
I have a studio, vista, and AL-Star. I wanted a 2k, but I have seen mixed reviews. After watching your video think I will get another AL-Star. The fact that they used that pen for the Harry Potter line, is also an endorsement. Thanks for the review.
I just got lamy in last week and its really smooth. I have medium nib but i recommend fine nib will be best . I dont like the design of pen but quality is really fabulous 🤩🤩.
Wanted to chime in that LAMY Safaris are my everyday pens. I have a couple I love, and I have just enough nibs that I don't need anything else except for special occasions. Still trying new things, though! Also saying it has NO flex is a little inaccurate; it has very little, but there are pens with less flex. Thank you for using so many different types of ink! That's something I haven't tried out enough, and I really want to. You did leave out a lot of their finer fountain pens like Lamy 2000, though. At the end of the video, I know you mentioned they have higher-end pens, but the video title confused me on that front. I like the Joy's length when doing calligraphy for a similar reason to why you like the Al-Star's weight when writing: food for thought!
Thank you! Yeah, these Lamy pens are so good! You're right, there is a LITTLE flex with the Lamy nibs, but it's so small that it's insignificant, in my view. As for the other pens, I wanted to keep this video more focused on the pens that share the same design cues. But I do need to review the rest of the Lamy range!
I have an AL-star, a Vista and a couple of Safaris. Love them all though the AL-star has a tiny bit more heft to it so it seems to fit my writing style best. But the Vista just looks freaking cool.
Whichever one I'm holding at the moment ;) I love the safari but I bought a 2000 back in the late 70's when I was just out of high school and that's still my favorite. But it doesn't leave the house so the safari does duty there. And I usually have a couple Sharks along as well. Those are to give to anyone that shows interest in using a fountain pen.
Great video. There is just one thing I think you should've, mentioned. And that is that the Safari has two kinds of texture available. The smooth one you showed in the clip but also a version with a slightly rougher surface.
I wish they were consistant in nib with. I have some EF that write that other M. Not of other brands, but between my different safaris. The black nib is also broader than the same in steel. Feels like they've taken the steel nib and dipped it in a black coating resulting in a broader nib 😏
I love the Safari. The grip is wonderful for me because of arthritis. I absolutely love it, as writing with it is effortless. My penmanship is improving again, though I doubt I’ll regain those glory days. My ‘scribbleese’ signature might even become legible again. Oh, but writing with it is something I think about doing when I’m not doing it. That pen is refreshing to say the least. I like it so much that I’m getting it in other colors. I plan on having a standing army of Lamys, and that’ll be great!
The LXs look nice, but never tried a Lamy. Scaffolding on the cap puts me off. Far too utilitarian (in a quarry with a clipboard.) ;-) Excellent informative video. Thank you.
1:55 - writing experience. Some of my cheaper pens (TWSBI Go, Preppy, Faber) are really rather nice and smooth, as are my old Parkers. How is it possible to justify any 'luxury' pen costing a mint? Always looking for that answer.
That is the question for every product of every price. Some products will just cost more to produce (like something USA-made versus overseas), and sometimes it's with the components. Some products will have a price that isn't justifiable to some people.
I'm new to the world of fountain pens and have yet to make a purchase. From what I learned from your video, I intend to buy the All-Star then Joy since I want to learn calligraphy. After searching extensively, your video is the first that seemed credible and most informative to me. Newly subscribed and a 👍
I don't dislike the click on the Safari/Vista. I've got a black AlStar, and I don't like how oily it gets. The Cap is not just bigger on the Alstar. If you unscrew the body, you see that the plastic ring is on the body, whilst on the Safari it's on the grip. I've got a white-silver AlStar Rolelrball with a black grip as well, I think it's just random which color gets which color grip. I've seen some with red grips.
Love my joy because ots longer. Doesnt post well and doesnt click well closed but i did get it for $18 so steal. Ill probably get an alstar after seeing this. Thank you
I don't think they would work. From what I understand, Pilot uses proprietary cartridges for their pens, and Namiki is their luxury line, so my guess is they probably don't.
I’ve just bought my first Lamy Safari pen and it is in a matte finish and I love it. I did hear that the Alstar because of the aluminum body dents and scratches easily. Is that correct?
That may be true. I haven't had mine long enough, and I haven't carried it in the wild enough. In my experience any coated metal product will eventually come off.
I'd like to see a comparison of the more expensive pens, specifically the Studio, CP1 and Aion. They all cost round about the same but I have no idea what the one has to offer over the other.
I always feel that saying the Safari is so cheap is definitely not for everyone. I mean, you can buy ballpoint pens for a few cents, and there are also (unexpectedly decent) fountain pens for a lot less than 20 dollars/euros. 30 dollars or euros is actually real money for a lot of people. Not saying it's expensive for the quality, but it is still 20-30 dollars/euros. Yes, I do have a Lamy and some other fountain pens. One of them is a Schneider, which only cost like 5-7 euros and it's actually not bad at all!
It would be impossible for me to speak for every person in every demographic. Even saying a pen is $5 could be too expensive for someone. The larger point I am making is that for the money, you get a very high value product for a price point that is low, comparatively. But that's a little too wordy, so saying something is "cheap" is more concise.
I haven't had it happen. I don't know if it's a common occurrence with the Safari. I don't know if you'll be moving a lot (or vigorously). But I think normal office work should be fine. But I think if you are concerned about it, get one, and clip it to a journal and carry it around to test drive it.
The Joy is my favorite art drawing and sketching pen. The long handle has a flat on each side to tell you what angle you have on the nib. You can flip the nib on it's back for very fine hatching, aided by the long handle. The Safari is way too short for an art pen. And you completely miss the unique huge advantage of all these pens is that you can hot swap the nibs. In seconds you can have a broad or a stub or an extra fine on the same pen with the same ink. The black Joy also has a rubberized handle which is a really wonderful texture, combined with an aluminum cap. And no not all calligraphers use dip pens, broad stubs are often used which is exactly what comes on the Joys.
Tou mıssed an ımportant poınt the nib on LX is different , the nib is a pdc covered nib which makes the writing much better . İf you buy the ındıvıdual nib , it douple the price of normal nib...alsomu could buy the gold nib and replace it with lx or the others ... any comment appreciated.
It's gotta be the safari because it's the smallest and most affordable. For drawing you want to get AT LEAST the fine or extra fine nib... Ideally though you want to get every single nib so that you can swap them out if you need to because you'll learn that sometimes you want to have a 1.5 mm stub so that you can shade things in... Or nothing more than a simple medium nib to make the lines a little thicker so it gives the illusion that this is closer... The fact the matter is for drawing... At least for me... The most important part is the ink... You have to have the ink concentrated, diluted... Even the nib you use will will effect the color .. there are so many ways to get just 1 blue ink to show different shades... Just to start START... Any affordable fountain pen in fine or extra fine Any fountain pen ink... "Peter Draws," likes Platinum's carbon black ink... It's quite dark! No need to worry about different shades when everything is straight up black as the night
the LX’s value is in the upgraded nib. It is not the same as the nib in the other versions. Z52 vs Z50 … the PVD coating on the Z52 causes it to write smoother, but perhaps that difference is so slight it’s unnoticeable to most and only discernible to hypersensitive writers.
Gotta disagree about the Joy. With that 1.9mm italic nib it’s a solid beginner calligraphy pen… with the added benefit of being able to swap in a standard nib if you get sick of it. The increased length without posting the cap is also not insignificant.
When doing calligraphy; the long, tapered body is really convenient. If you've been using a writing pen for calligraphy all along, you might not appreciate it at first.
I have been unable to find the name of my Lamy pen! I have had it for around 30 years (I think!), and it has a metal (SS?) cap with a sprung flat clip. The body is black metal with a separate and slightly bulbous grip made of grey metal and with three sets of three dimples. It still works beautifully with the original nib. If anyone can identify it, I'd be very grateful.
Wow - thank you. I'll have a look for that.@@NicolasDecollibus Just checked, and it isn't the 2000, but the next style in the list was the Lamy Accent, which is not identical to the pen I have, but much closer. Thanks again.
Wow, I love your breakdown. I got my first Safari in 1990 and about 6 years ago the click didn’t happen and it ruined one of my favorite handbags oozing black ink. I replaced with a rollerball and have been hesitant to go back to fountain even though i do calligraphy and draw with radiograph and feel the same about the medium nib. I have been looking at rose gold which matches my new favorite handbags so to find out the round holder box is going to double protect. I also love the mechanical pencil and the rollerball has been amazing. You just took all my hesitation out of getting a new fountain pen which has always been my preferred writing implement. Thanks so much and looking forward to more insight and reviews
You DO need a Safari! And hey, they’re inexpensive! After I’d bought my first one I immediately went for another, the Vista, just to be able to see through it. For fun, go online and pick up one of the gift sets for the new models; the pen (you choose the nib), box of cartridges and a bottle of the ink, converter and complimentary cartridge all for a sweet price. I’m getting a couple more in other colors - at least a couple more. They are that excellent, and I reach for it every time. My advice: run - don’t walk. Get the Safari!
@@PrinceValium_TheRestlessKnight I’m slower, so that must’ve been you sprinting past me! I’ve got a Vista waiting for me to get to it in my mail today, and I have a lineup of three more I’m going to get ASAP! I’m in love Lamy. I fell like a rock for these pens. My others are giving me the evil eye, yikes!
I dunno. I just received a new Lamy Safari. Loaded it up with Carbon Platinum ink. It just doesn’t work well. Sometimes it flows when you get going, writing or sketching. But then if you stop, it goes dry, until you glide it a couple of times. Very intermittent. Very disappointed.
Platinum Carbon has pigment particles in it and in my experience it clogs up in a lot of pens whereas other inks work fine. This is why they tell you not to use India ink because it has particles, but somehow platinum carbon has been marketed for fountain pens. You will need to clean out the pen very very well. Take out the feed and understand that the feed is deceptive it's actually got two parts and you need to take it apart and clean it with just a few drops of ammonia in warm water and soak it. There are videos where they show how the plastic feed comes apart. Then try some other black ink like noodlers bulletproof black. It's a very good permanent ink for drawing and general writing.
the LX nib is actually better, it is a lot smoother. Also if you want to buy the 1.1 1.5 1.9 nibs the Joy price is so cheap it is a dollar or two to get the joy with the Nib you want.
In the Netherlands elementary schools used to teach FP writing with those ugly Bruynzeel pens. Had a lame grip so my teachers gave me even a more horrible piece or writing tool: yeah they gave me a bic cristal (I used them as prop shooter). At high school I got my 1st to 5th Parker in singer2, contact and vector. The contact I had as ball, Fountain and pencil. Still own them all today (12+ years old). Haven’t had a real Lamy yet but I disliked the Safari style geip on Jinhao 599A. I currently using Platinum Meteor and that’s the best writing and gripstyle fp for me
Lamy AL-Star and Lamy Lx are not the same thing. You did not mention the important advancements in Lamy Lx over Lamy AL-Star. I) Lamy Lx is made for more durability over Al-Star. 2) Lamy Lx nibs are different from Al-Star. The nib here is Palladium Coated and is more juicer than that of Al-Star or Safari.
Sorry mate, gonna have to disagree. I really prefer the Joy calligraphy nibs, they're better than the regular nibs in my opinion. They have some of the typical calligraphic broad-to-fine-to-broad variance in the stroke, instead of the uniform broadness of the regular nibs. Unfortunately, this does not come out very well in your writing sample in the video, which is rather short and not very calligraphic (no offence), and doesn't do the Joy nibs justice in my opinion. Check the 'Lamy Joy Pen Review' from RoysArtyCrafty for a decent writing sample of what the Lamy Joy is capable of, while having all the convenience of a fountain pen instead of dip pens. The 1.5 and 1.9 are a great for calligraphy, but a bit too large for practical daily use, but the 1.1 is perfectly suited for daily writing. It's stroke is comparable in size to the regular medium nibs, but it still has a bit of that calligraphic stroke to it (albeit less than the 1.5 and 1.9) which the regular nibs completely lack. The nibs are interchangeable too, so you can fit the calligraphic nibs on most Lamy pens. (side note: Safari caps do not fit on the Joy, so apparently they are not exactly the same. I also prefer the longer and tapered end of the Joy over the short and stubby Safari, it just looks more elegant in my opinion.) Just my two cents.
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Sir please look up "Rhinophyma." It's treatable, you're still young, and it's not so bad right now. The more you wait for treatment, the worse and bumpier it's going to get. Go to your local family doctor or just any physician for treatment❤️
Also
Hey!
Thanks for the video! I like the al-star and the vista, but the cap on my vista is starting to show signs of cracks... So that sucks! Maybe one day I'll try the LX
=)
I hearing that Lamy has sold it's business..
Japan picked it up ?? Any comment?
I like to think that what will happen to Lamy, will be good. Although it all remains to be seen, the fact it's owned by a Japanese firm speaks positively in regards to maintaining or improving production quality.
@@kan-zeeI haven't heard that. But if it's true, I think a Japanese ownership would do well with it.
I love your enthusiasm for this pen. It really is that good! I got my first in charcoal, and turned around to order the Vista for fun. I’m getting other colors for fun too. My heir will appreciate getting all my fountain pens!
In Germany You are supposed to write with fountain pens in the elementary and middle school. I hated it and was very happy when I was allowed to switch to whatever I wanted in high school. But now, 15 years after finishing school I am baack to ink. I started with a safari because of the design.
Funny how that is the story for so many people. I also switched to smth else (also Germany) as soon as I was allowed - and now being 48 I go back to a fountain pen because the writing feeling and look is just nicer.
In america we use them in art class high school only and in mexico apparently never to us this is something cool and like a showoff toy
It's been 4 weeks now - I bought a journal and a Lamy Safari. I love it. Writing really fells so good again, kinda like meditation.
Same in Argentina in the 90s! I had to use fountain pen and was desperate to switch to ballpoint because I have clammy hands and I made a mess. Now as a 37 year old I bought a Lamy and I’m obsessed 😂
@@antzieisme Crazy how we sometimes only appreciate things once that age thing starts :D
the clip on the Safari is great. I have several. . . . .a winner!
Lamy could make some real waves in the calligraphy market by coming up with an optional or included stand for their Joy model, transforming it into a classic desk pen with Safari-like design and handling characteristics. Switching to one of their regular fine or medium nib would make it equally suitable as a desk pen for everyday cursive writing.
Thank you for this. I am a beginner fountain pen user. I have dyspraxia I did not know about any grip and my hand writing was atrocious. When I bought the Lamy Safari my handwriting improve dramatically. It was like night and day and I did not have to make any effort. From then on I just learn the tripod grip. I do find I like the Al-Star as I think it ground you. Having a fountain made me like writing, would like to improve writing and it gives me so much joy.
What Nib size did you use? I kinda have the same problem you know...
edit: grammar
What a great review! This is clearly from someone who actually used and enjoyed these pens. It is really refreshing to see this type of review on UA-cam, where it isn't just for the sake of making a video.
Thank you so much!
Great video. I have just got into fountain pens so bought a Safari and an AL Star - both are great. I bought one with a fine nib and one medium but it turns out that I prefer a fine nib so I just switched it out today.
I like the feel of them, the colour choice, that everything is interchangeable and that they are easy to use right out of the box.
I'm in university, but I'm still using the Lamy nexx that I got in primary school (I'm from Germany, learning to write with a fountain pen was mandatory). I love it, but it has taken quite a beating during that time (for example, I don't even know since when the plastic clip is missing). I also only learned recently that there are different nibs, so I'm still on the beginner's nib. I think I'll get a Safari or an AL-Star soon, they seem really nice.
The Safari is one you can’t go wrong with. If you don’t want color, the Vista writes exactly the same. I’m absolutely in love with these. I just added a Cosy Cream and Aqua Sky to my budding collection. 🩵💙
I've had issues with other fountain pens because the ink flow is always too wet, or the grip sections don't fit my grip (i'm left handed), Lamy has always been just perfect for me since the grip is js perfect, and the flow is perf
absolutely underrated channel
thank you!
Agreed
OMG. I was thinking AL-star was All-Star, Thank you for letting me know that "AL" is for aluminum. On a whim, I wanted a fountain pen and picked out the Lamy AL star in the Fiery color. It's fantastic. These are such a far cry better from ones I tried decades ago. The design is awesome. At some point when I use up the set of cartridges I bought, I want to switch to a converter and use some of the interesting colors available from the bottles.
12:31... Amazon Canada price differences are:
$44.oo Lamy Safari (matte black) Medium nib
$38.oo Lamy Vista (clear body) Fine nib
I got each , and switched out the Medium nib from L.Safari into the Lamy Vista clear body, Now it's a Perfect Fountain Pen..lol
The lamy nexx is very under-appreciated, it doesn't look like these main ones on the outside but the actual feed and the nib are the same, the grips is the same too but rubberised, a lot more comfortable
Best review on the Lamy I’ve seen…and I’ve seen a lot! 😊
thank you!
I have the Lamy Vista, Al Star and Safari. My favorite is by far the Vista. It just writes smoother than the other.
Thanks! Fun Review… interesting to note that all the pens notes are effective a Safari at the guts level… mean nib, feed cartridge or Converter are all the same. AND this goes for the Lamy Studio as well. The studio is a more conventional looking fountain pen with its beautiful and sleek aluminium body… but it’s still a Volkswagen under the skin,, I mean a Safari…. Using that car analogy….buy a VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda and I am sure others… open the bonnet… look at the engine, and there are the VW or Audi logos all over the place. Same with the LAMY… the train JUST WORKS and works well and it’s well engineered.
I'm thinking of buying the LX, safari and aster of paker have been champs for me for more than a year. So I for an upgrade and I'm saving for one and now I have saved enough of my pocket money to buy LX. Though I'm not going to spend all of it towards a pen of cource! I've saved about $180.75 or 15,000 rupees.
Thanks for this amazing comparison, it made my mind clear for which is a better option!!!
Have you bought yet?
How much did it cost in india, and which store to buy from?
@@faizandot I've bought safari and aster both r good 2.5k for safari and aster mate black for 1.6k
Damn good pens for their price
@@ArnavKhandelwal-dp5nd thank you so much,
I am also going to buy safari.
I have a yellow Safari, and it is a good pen for the money; certainly better than the low priced Sheaffer cartridge pens we used in elementary school. I would suggest that if you think the Lamy pens in the video are what Lamy does best, you need to cast your eyes toward the vintage fountain pen market. Look for a Lamy 2000, or if you are really lucky, you may find a Lamy Persona. I haven't been following the fountain pen market for the last 10 years or so, but the 2000 is a great pen at $CAN200 or so when I bought mine, and a Persona is a lot more than that, but worth every penny.
I like the Lamy Safari a lot but the I just can't with the grip. I wish the grip was rounded.
I like the Lamy Joy. I have actually found that my calligraphy looks better when I use it. It may have something to do with balance.
The only pen that I can write at all nicely with is the Joy. I am thinking of buying a couple of LX pens to swap the Joy 1.5mm nibs into, so I can have nice handwriting without using a big weird chunk of plastic.
I recently picked up an Lamy Vista fountain pen
great pen!
3:44
You can actually eyedropper it. Switch the barrel with the Vista rollerblading barrel and then glue the breather hole in the back of the barrel. Also you can take a extra rubber o ring to fit between the barrel and the grip and you should be good.
The Joy is also available in a box version with two additional fronts (?) with two different nibs attached so you can super quickly change them. That version is a nice package.
I have the Marron LX. It has a beautiful metal fennel and it certainly has a larger diameter than my wife’s Safaris. Replaced the black nib with the Lamy gold nib. Very elegant, fine writing and for not a premium price.
I have read a lot of whining reviews about the LX from people who clearly have no idea about manufacturing. They don't seem to realise how much more time it takes to make seemingly minor changes. As a watch enthusiast it took a while for me to appreciate the nuances of finishing and how time-consuming and expensive this seemingly straightforward aspect of production can get. An increase of $20 doesn't get you much of an improvement to most things I strongly suspect that Lamy are offering this for a very good price. .
I have the Allstar, Joy, Vista but also the Lamy Logo in brushed metal. The Logo is a thinner pen.
I have the Joy and I really like it because I use these for calligraphy. I think that the only reason for the different body is to somewhat imitate the shape of traditional dip pens, but I still really like it. Only complaint I have is that the widest nib you can get is 1.9mm I think, which kinda limits the types of calligraphy you can do, but it's still a super cool pen, nothing wrong with it otherwise.
9:57 I'm not sure what you mean here. I can see on the product listings that the Joy has a chisel-tip nib, while the others have regular point nibs. Sure it might be compatible with other Lamys, and you can buy the nibs on their own, but it does come with a different nib.
Looking on Goldspot, the options are medium nib and two choices of stub nibs. The pen by itself doesn't automatically come with stub nibs. They do sell a boxed set with different nibs inside, but it seems to be a more deluxe version of the pen.
Very informative. 👍🏼
How does one know how much writing he can get from a cartridge? A thousand words? 5,000? 10,000? Thank you.
I don't know precisely, but doing a quick search, I got an AI answer that said between 1,500 and 5,000 words. I think that's probably accurate. Your mileage will vary depending on what nib your write with, a bold nib will use more ink than a fine, etc. Some pens may write a little wetter, giving you different results. And some cartridges are longer, and thus have a larger capacity.
Just bought an Al-Star after seeing your video.
Hope you enjoy it!
the added value I find to the LX case is that you avoid ink spills when you take them on a plane.
I have a studio, vista, and AL-Star. I wanted a 2k, but I have seen mixed reviews. After watching your video think I will get another AL-Star. The fact that they used that pen for the Harry Potter line, is also an endorsement.
Thanks for the review.
I’m glad you found this video helpful! I need to review the rest of the Lamy line. I appreciate your comment!
I just got lamy in last week and its really smooth. I have medium nib but i recommend fine nib will be best . I dont like the design of pen but quality is really fabulous 🤩🤩.
Wanted to chime in that LAMY Safaris are my everyday pens. I have a couple I love, and I have just enough nibs that I don't need anything else except for special occasions. Still trying new things, though! Also saying it has NO flex is a little inaccurate; it has very little, but there are pens with less flex. Thank you for using so many different types of ink! That's something I haven't tried out enough, and I really want to. You did leave out a lot of their finer fountain pens like Lamy 2000, though. At the end of the video, I know you mentioned they have higher-end pens, but the video title confused me on that front. I like the Joy's length when doing calligraphy for a similar reason to why you like the Al-Star's weight when writing: food for thought!
Thank you! Yeah, these Lamy pens are so good! You're right, there is a LITTLE flex with the Lamy nibs, but it's so small that it's insignificant, in my view. As for the other pens, I wanted to keep this video more focused on the pens that share the same design cues. But I do need to review the rest of the Lamy range!
I have an AL-star, a Vista and a couple of Safaris. Love them all though the AL-star has a tiny bit more heft to it so it seems to fit my writing style best. But the Vista just looks freaking cool.
Whichever one I'm holding at the moment ;) I love the safari but I bought a 2000 back in the late 70's when I was just out of high school and that's still my favorite. But it doesn't leave the house so the safari does duty there. And I usually have a couple Sharks along as well. Those are to give to anyone that shows interest in using a fountain pen.
Awesome video. The audio is great too!
Thanks!
I got my first foutnain pen a few weeks back! An AL-star! I write slightly better with it than a regular pen as i do not have to press as hard!
That’s awesome! Fantastic pen!
Great video. There is just one thing I think you should've, mentioned. And that is that the Safari has two kinds of texture available. The smooth one you showed in the clip but also a version with a slightly rougher surface.
Lamy CP1 is my favourite. The sleeper fountain pen.
*Great Compare/Contrast* video. I would be sad if I lost my Safari. Definitely not a 'throw-away' pen (for me)
I wish they were consistant in nib with. I have some EF that write that other M. Not of other brands, but between my different safaris. The black nib is also broader than the same in steel. Feels like they've taken the steel nib and dipped it in a black coating resulting in a broader nib 😏
I love the Safari. The grip is wonderful for me because of arthritis. I absolutely love it, as writing with it is effortless. My penmanship is improving again, though I doubt I’ll regain those glory days. My ‘scribbleese’ signature might even become legible again. Oh, but writing with it is something I think about doing when I’m not doing it. That pen is refreshing to say the least. I like it so much that I’m getting it in other colors. I plan on having a standing army of Lamys, and that’ll be great!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video, very helpful.
You're very welcome!
The LXs look nice, but never tried a Lamy. Scaffolding on the cap puts me off. Far too utilitarian (in a quarry with a clipboard.) ;-)
Excellent informative video. Thank you.
Calligraphy pens do not necessarily dip pens. There are a lot of good brands that manufacture regular calligraphy pens.
How about the Aion and Ideos pens?
1:55 - writing experience. Some of my cheaper pens (TWSBI Go, Preppy, Faber) are really rather nice and smooth, as are my old Parkers. How is it possible to justify any 'luxury' pen costing a mint? Always looking for that answer.
That is the question for every product of every price. Some products will just cost more to produce (like something USA-made versus overseas), and sometimes it's with the components. Some products will have a price that isn't justifiable to some people.
I'm new to the world of fountain pens and have yet to make a purchase. From what I learned from your video, I intend to buy the All-Star then Joy since I want to learn calligraphy. After searching extensively, your video is the first that seemed credible and most informative to me. Newly subscribed and a 👍
thank you!
I don't dislike the click on the Safari/Vista.
I've got a black AlStar, and I don't like how oily it gets. The Cap is not just bigger on the Alstar. If you unscrew the body, you see that the plastic ring is on the body, whilst on the Safari it's on the grip. I've got a white-silver AlStar Rolelrball with a black grip as well, I think it's just random which color gets which color grip. I've seen some with red grips.
Really great Video! Loved it!! Absolute insane production quality. Keep it up :)
Thanks a ton!
last week, I got the transparent one with the red cartridge - I make lots of mistakes.
You and me; we never make mistakes, we never stop learning 😊
I was searching lamy safari review video and just found your channel, love your video❤❤
Thank you so much!
Love my joy because ots longer. Doesnt post well and doesnt click well closed but i did get it for $18 so steal. Ill probably get an alstar after seeing this. Thank you
Great vid. Can you please tell me if the ic-100 namiki cartriges work for this pen?
I don't think they would work. From what I understand, Pilot uses proprietary cartridges for their pens, and Namiki is their luxury line, so my guess is they probably don't.
I am using Lamy Vista and I had no issues so far. I really like seeing the ink color. It is a reliable pen 🤍
I’ve just bought my first Lamy Safari pen and it is in a matte finish and I love it. I did hear that the Alstar because of the aluminum body dents and scratches easily. Is that correct?
That may be true. I haven't had mine long enough, and I haven't carried it in the wild enough. In my experience any coated metal product will eventually come off.
Uh... I think Lx has a upgrade of two-tone PVD nib?
I'd like to see a comparison of the more expensive pens, specifically the Studio, CP1 and Aion.
They all cost round about the same but I have no idea what the one has to offer over the other.
Maybe it loosed ink towards upper parts of any writing. Its a major flaw and im reconsidering buying it.
I always feel that saying the Safari is so cheap is definitely not for everyone. I mean, you can buy ballpoint pens for a few cents, and there are also (unexpectedly decent) fountain pens for a lot less than 20 dollars/euros. 30 dollars or euros is actually real money for a lot of people. Not saying it's expensive for the quality, but it is still 20-30 dollars/euros. Yes, I do have a Lamy and some other fountain pens. One of them is a Schneider, which only cost like 5-7 euros and it's actually not bad at all!
It would be impossible for me to speak for every person in every demographic. Even saying a pen is $5 could be too expensive for someone. The larger point I am making is that for the money, you get a very high value product for a price point that is low, comparatively. But that's a little too wordy, so saying something is "cheap" is more concise.
I want a Lamy Safari fountain pen for work, but it will be clipped in my shirt all day. I'm worried it will bleed/spill out. Is that a real concern?
I haven't had it happen. I don't know if it's a common occurrence with the Safari. I don't know if you'll be moving a lot (or vigorously). But I think normal office work should be fine. But I think if you are concerned about it, get one, and clip it to a journal and carry it around to test drive it.
How could you pass on the two best Lamys.? Studio. Aion
I was going after a comparison between the "safari" body shapes. I would love to do a larger review of the whole line.
My Joy's came with 1.1 and 1.5 stubs and work well for calligraphy! They DO NOT suck!
what notebook are you using in your demonstrations?
It's a Rhodia graph paper. I really like it a lot. I should have it linked in the pinned comment.
I prefer the Studio in matte black cause the grip section isnt slippery like the metal colored grip section and its round not forced grip :0)
The Joy is my favorite art drawing and sketching pen. The long handle has a flat on each side to tell you what angle you have on the nib. You can flip the nib on it's back for very fine hatching, aided by the long handle. The Safari is way too short for an art pen. And you completely miss the unique huge advantage of all these pens is that you can hot swap the nibs. In seconds you can have a broad or a stub or an extra fine on the same pen with the same ink. The black Joy also has a rubberized handle which is a really wonderful texture, combined with an aluminum cap. And no not all calligraphers use dip pens, broad stubs are often used which is exactly what comes on the Joys.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video. You answered all my questions. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Aren’t stub nibs meant for calligraphy?
it's used a lot in calligraphy, but people use them for everyday writing as well
@ thanks for the clarification. 😊
The safari grip looks textured compared to the al-star isn't it ?
no, there's no texture on it
@@BeastMadeReviews Oh. Thanks. I've a pretty sweaty hands so I was thinking of getting the Safari because it seemed to have a better grip.
I have a lamy joy and it has a different nib than the safari
"You'd be a monster if you did, though" LOL LOL That's too much, but very true!! lol lol
Tou mıssed an ımportant poınt the nib on LX is different , the nib is a pdc covered nib which makes the writing much better . İf you buy the ındıvıdual nib , it douple the price of normal nib...alsomu could buy the gold nib and replace it with lx or the others ... any comment appreciated.
which pen would you think is best for drawing?
It's gotta be the safari because it's the smallest and most affordable. For drawing you want to get AT LEAST the fine or extra fine nib... Ideally though you want to get every single nib so that you can swap them out if you need to because you'll learn that sometimes you want to have a 1.5 mm stub so that you can shade things in... Or nothing more than a simple medium nib to make the lines a little thicker so it gives the illusion that this is closer... The fact the matter is for drawing... At least for me... The most important part is the ink... You have to have the ink concentrated, diluted... Even the nib you use will will effect the color .. there are so many ways to get just 1 blue ink to show different shades... Just to start START...
Any affordable fountain pen in fine or extra fine
Any fountain pen ink... "Peter Draws," likes Platinum's carbon black ink... It's quite dark! No need to worry about different shades when everything is straight up black as the night
Best pen for drawing, believe it or not, is the bic crystal ballpoint pen.
the LX’s value is in the upgraded nib. It is not the same as the nib in the other versions. Z52 vs Z50 … the PVD coating on the Z52 causes it to write smoother, but perhaps that difference is so slight it’s unnoticeable to most and only discernible to hypersensitive writers.
Gotta disagree about the Joy. With that 1.9mm italic nib it’s a solid beginner calligraphy pen… with the added benefit of being able to swap in a standard nib if you get sick of it. The increased length without posting the cap is also not insignificant.
When doing calligraphy; the long, tapered body is really convenient. If you've been using a writing pen for calligraphy all along, you might not appreciate it at first.
Great video! Thanks for the comparison.
Thanks for watching!
You don't have any review of parker pens ,Can you review parker fountain pens founded in 1888
I'll look into it, thank you
I have been unable to find the name of my Lamy pen!
I have had it for around 30 years (I think!), and it has a metal (SS?) cap with a sprung flat clip. The body is black metal with a separate and slightly bulbous grip made of grey metal and with three sets of three dimples. It still works beautifully with the original nib.
If anyone can identify it, I'd be very grateful.
hello Sir. I researched the pen you might be thinking of. LAMY 2000
Wow - thank you. I'll have a look for that.@@NicolasDecollibus Just checked, and it isn't the 2000, but the next style in the list was the Lamy Accent, which is not identical to the pen I have, but much closer. Thanks again.
Wow, I love your breakdown. I got my first Safari in 1990 and about 6 years ago the click didn’t happen and it ruined one of my favorite handbags oozing black ink. I replaced with a rollerball and have been hesitant to go back to fountain even though i do calligraphy and draw with radiograph and feel the same about the medium nib. I have been looking at rose gold which matches my new favorite handbags so to find out the round holder box is going to double protect. I also love the mechanical pencil and the rollerball has been amazing. You just took all my hesitation out of getting a new fountain pen which has always been my preferred writing implement. Thanks so much and looking forward to more insight and reviews
Thank you for a great video
Just bought my first Lamy FP, an AL Star. Now I'm obsessed, and convinced I need a Safari. Somebody stop me!! Mwah! Haah! Haaah!!! ✒️✒️✒️
they're so good! i think you need one too. :)
You DO need a Safari! And hey, they’re inexpensive! After I’d bought my first one I immediately went for another, the Vista, just to be able to see through it. For fun, go online and pick up one of the gift sets for the new models; the pen (you choose the nib), box of cartridges and a bottle of the ink, converter and complimentary cartridge all for a sweet price. I’m getting a couple more in other colors - at least a couple more. They are that excellent, and I reach for it every time. My advice: run - don’t walk. Get the Safari!
@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 Run? I sprinted! I think I have three now. Or is it four? 🥳🕺
@@PrinceValium_TheRestlessKnight
I’m slower, so that must’ve been you sprinting past me! I’ve got a Vista waiting for me to get to it in my mail today, and I have a lineup of three more I’m going to get ASAP! I’m in love Lamy. I fell like a rock for these pens. My others are giving me the evil eye, yikes!
I dunno. I just received a new Lamy Safari. Loaded it up with Carbon Platinum ink. It just doesn’t work well. Sometimes it flows when you get going, writing or sketching. But then if you stop, it goes dry, until you glide it a couple of times. Very intermittent. Very disappointed.
iirc platinum carbon ink is famous for having a dodgy feeling but is able to be used on regular papers
Platinum Carbon has pigment particles in it and in my experience it clogs up in a lot of pens whereas other inks work fine. This is why they tell you not to use India ink because it has particles, but somehow platinum carbon has been marketed for fountain pens. You will need to clean out the pen very very well. Take out the feed and understand that the feed is deceptive it's actually got two parts and you need to take it apart and clean it with just a few drops of ammonia in warm water and soak it. There are videos where they show how the plastic feed comes apart. Then try some other black ink like noodlers bulletproof black. It's a very good permanent ink for drawing and general writing.
Thank you for your review! ❤
Glad to! Thank you for watching!
the LX nib is actually better, it is a lot smoother.
Also if you want to buy the 1.1 1.5 1.9 nibs the Joy price is so cheap it is a dollar or two to get the joy with the Nib you want.
Didn’t talk at all about the LX coming with a stainless steel nib…
(Beginner)
Just got Lamy safari - yes, don’t prefer the blue. Me thinks black is the next
The 2000 all the way!
Lamy Aion is the best I have (but I have not had a change to use a Lamy 2000)
Thanks for the reviews.
thank you for watching!
In the Netherlands elementary schools used to teach FP writing with those ugly Bruynzeel pens. Had a lame grip so my teachers gave me even a more horrible piece or writing tool: yeah they gave me a bic cristal (I used them as prop shooter). At high school I got my 1st to 5th Parker in singer2, contact and vector. The contact I had as ball, Fountain and pencil. Still own them all today (12+ years old). Haven’t had a real Lamy yet but I disliked the Safari style geip on Jinhao 599A. I currently using Platinum Meteor and that’s the best writing and gripstyle fp for me
I don't like the grip. 13:52
Thanks for the information
Great review
Why is AL star so much more expensive compared to safari it looks gorgeous but peice is pretty different percentage wise
It's not much more money. $20 versus $30. But the Al-Star is built better.
nice vid mate
I actually like grip of these LAMY pens, I less like how bulky they are.
Thank You!
You're welcome! Thank you for watching!
Lamy AL-Star and Lamy Lx are not the same thing. You did not mention the important advancements in Lamy Lx over Lamy AL-Star. I) Lamy Lx is made for more durability over Al-Star. 2) Lamy Lx nibs are different from Al-Star. The nib here is Palladium Coated and is more juicer than that of Al-Star or Safari.
A coating or material change is not a design change. The nib of LX is good, but the overall value of the LX doesn’t seem to justify its existence
The 2000 obviously
There are definitely more Lamys to talk about in future episodes 😁
Sorry mate, gonna have to disagree.
I really prefer the Joy calligraphy nibs, they're better than the regular nibs in my opinion. They have some of the typical calligraphic broad-to-fine-to-broad variance in the stroke, instead of the uniform broadness of the regular nibs. Unfortunately, this does not come out very well in your writing sample in the video, which is rather short and not very calligraphic (no offence), and doesn't do the Joy nibs justice in my opinion.
Check the 'Lamy Joy Pen Review' from RoysArtyCrafty for a decent writing sample of what the Lamy Joy is capable of, while having all the convenience of a fountain pen instead of dip pens. The 1.5 and 1.9 are a great for calligraphy, but a bit too large for practical daily use, but the 1.1 is perfectly suited for daily writing. It's stroke is comparable in size to the regular medium nibs, but it still has a bit of that calligraphic stroke to it (albeit less than the 1.5 and 1.9) which the regular nibs completely lack.
The nibs are interchangeable too, so you can fit the calligraphic nibs on most Lamy pens.
(side note: Safari caps do not fit on the Joy, so apparently they are not exactly the same. I also prefer the longer and tapered end of the Joy over the short and stubby Safari, it just looks more elegant in my opinion.)
Just my two cents.