Have They Gone Too Far? The Jinhao 80 (+Lamy 2000 and Kaco Edge)
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- A review of the Jinhao 80, plus a comparison to the Lamy 2000 and a Kaco Edge update.
* While editing, I found more color choices for this pen on eBay that weren’t available when I recorded the video. They are here: ebay.us/mpkytk
You can find this pen here: ebay.us/qoqZpK
Ink in this review is Diamond Oxford Blue.
The paper used was a Rhodia top spiral dot pad.
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I really like the closing comment! "It's just a pen." "Love, respect, humility" Thanks for the sentiment and advice! I like the pen review, too! :-)
Seriously! That was really touching!
Estoy de acuerdo con Usted. El cierre de la revisión con el comentario de "Es simplemente una pluma" es una puesta a tierra a este tema que tantas pasiones despierta. Fue genial ese apunte.
I have one Lamy 2000 and 2 Jinghao 80s in black. These 2 pens have totally different writing experience. For note-taking, I probably want to use Jinghao 80. They are so good that I ordered another 8 of different colors. I plan to fill them with ink with different colors once the pens arrives.
I just typed 99% of a legal-brief (which are generally not “brief” in words but outline the current state of the law. U.S.. law does not protect mere design patents. (Last I knew, Japan does, on goods sold in Japan, so selling the Jinhao 80 there, if Lamy has a design patent there, could be precluded). I covered Supreme Court decisions that allow discount stores to head away from a fashion show with pictures and designs should for hundreds, if not occasionally in the thousands, of dollars that are sent to /Asia to copy. If it is mere design (no illegal use of trademark or trade name; nothing trying to pass off the AS THE ORIGINAL) our courts prefer serving a wider range of consumers through “fair” competition. A seller who ties to pass off the goods with phony trademarks and such deceptive practices could find the goods confiscated and prosecuted for violations of laws. We are kidding ourselves if we think anyone is really deceived by a cartridge/converter pen that has a steel nib and none of the genius of a true LAMY 2000. No is unethical in selling these pens, and no one should be crying about the copies. We are not deceived. I will spare you the equivalent of a 2-page summary. Some lawyers may want to argue the cases involving restaurant design and layout: Flaky Jakes lost a lawsuit filed by Fuddruckers; Two Pesos (San Antonio) won a case against Taco Cabana (Houston area & founded by the Fuddruckers folks)but the basis of those cases was the designs were so alike as to confuse the consuming public as to source or ownership. Dresses, purses, and fountain pens simply do not rise to that level of confusion. [I am sorry I lost the long, long typed response, but you might actually read this one. It is neither illegal nor unethical to sell a product that is a less expensive version of another, so long as there is no real attempt at deception.
Design protection only lasts 25 years in Japan and 15 years in most other jurisdictions, so the Lamy 2000, which came out in 1966, is no longer protected anywhere on the planet.
@@paradoxmo wow, very interesting. I feel defensive of Lamy, but then I have all this knock-off designer furniture that cost a fraction of the cost of the original. I obviously have higher standards when it comes to pens!
Agree 100% on "It's a pen." I have an 80, haven't inked yet, have other pens I'm focused on. Glad to hear the nib is better. I found the 80 is now in colors, like Kaco? I ordered a red one. I also have a 2000. In the hand, they are 2 different pens. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Quite different in hand, and I think for some the Jinhao grip will be an improvement (though I prefer the style of the original). I only saw the colors added as I was adding links to the description. I’ll look forward to your take on the red one. 👍🏼
@@JG3Reviews can we put a pilot v pen nib in the jinhao 80??
Interesting viewpoint, I’m glad I watched the video to the end even though I am a Lamy 2000 owner. It’s a 2000 with the option of a slip on Lamy Safari/Al Star nib, which even makes it desirable.
A great video. I have my 80 and I love it. I know what I have, if one day I could afford the L 200 I might get one. As of now I have to wait and practice with affordable pens. You are right, it is just a Pen.
Very good review that leads to an excellent conclusion: share opinions respectfully to appreciate what is good for you and avoid what is bad for others. Keep up this good work, James. God bless.
Aristotle's triptych... or as I have heard it... "I told you all that to tell you this..."
Sometimes a pen is just a pen.
Excellent!
Thanks for the review! I like your widening, (and simultanously narrowing) the perspective on our common interest in writing instruments. ”Back and forth” is the pulsating motion of the tide, the seasons, our hearts and probably the Universe itself, from the Big Bang to the Collaps of Time and space.)
From the buyers/consumer’s perspective a pen is just tool. From the producer’s perspective it’s the result of economical politics of the nation, use of natural resources and the treatment of labourers.
”One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”
A car is only as good as its engine and a pen is only as good as it writes. Hats off to your objective and unbiased review, irrespective of how you felt about the overall attitude of the manufacturer. The attitude of the reviewer outweighed the pen or the manufacturer in this purely genuine review.
Thank you for honest thoughts! Not all people who may love to have a nice writing pen can afford the best. I wish we could.
The Jinhao 80 writes well with common paper too.
Add me to the "Like it" side. I started out with the black clipped 80...I've always wanted that blue Lamy 2000, so of course I ordered the Navy Blue Jinhao 80 as soon as I saw it.
I just finished a series on my channel called “fake pen summer,” where I talked about pens that copy other pens blatantly. This would have been a good one for that. I’m still kind of down to get one. I love my Kaco Edge, which is also in blue. I kind of want the Jinhao 80 too. I think I’ve accidentally given myself a taste for the rip-off.
Personally, I don’t think companies should rip off other companies designs (weather it’s legal or not) but I can’t say I blame collectors for getting these fakers. They’re a really fun conversation piece.
Unpopular opinion: My Lamy 2k was kind of disappointing (especially for the price).
I think it’s the non visible details in engineering and manufacturing quality that justify the price difference, and they’re not copying those. Sometimes I just think a pen looks cool, but I want one I can afford to lose, drop, forget somewhere, or misplace (because I do those things with my pens as much or more than I write with them, sadly). I think there’s room for both the quality originals and the serviceable knockoffs. They’re not eating into eachother’s markets because people like me just wouldn’t buy a fountain pen ever if they were all fancy. The cheap knockoffs make pens an accessible hobby, thereby helping nurture future buyers of the higher grade pens, so I think everybody benefits. I’d only draw the line at outright fraud (such as printing the brand name logo on the knockoff).
@@animula6908 yeah, I’m more of a “blue collar” pen lover myself. I buy them to write with them, so I don’t care if they’re not fancy or ornate. I do think that my favorite pens in the budget genre are the ones with something original to offer. But I also don’t want to take my expensive pens to work, or on vacation for all the reasons you mentioned. I’ve found that the ones that invest all their energy into looking “exactly” like the originals (down to the label, like you mentioned) are usually the worst quality.
And the Jinhao 80 is a copy of the Lamy 80, discontinued in the early 80s by Lamy. Not a blatant copy of the L2K.
Man since you brought up the Kaco... The flexy nib makes me pick up my Kaco Edges all the time! It's just so smooth and writes beautifully.
I now own one red, one blue, and one green. Beautifull colors.
Should a Senator or a Platinum look like a Montblanc? Should cartridges be restricted to Waterman? Piston filling to Pelikan (now don't start that again!)?
The Lamy 2000 is a classic design, which has been around for over half a century; the Studio not much less. When do they stop being untouchable, and other manufacturers take up the design. The Parker 51 was revolutionary when it was introduced, but other companies - many well respected then and now - did not wait until 1997 to 'be inspired' - the revered Aurora 88, for example, was created in 1946.
Let's be reasonable about this. Design develops. Some becomes classic, some left by the wayside. The thousands of Duofold clones on the market aren't rubbish *because* they are ahem "an hommage", though undoubtedly many of them aren't particularly worth picking up. Some are excellent, and some may be considered better than the original (disclaimer: Not necessarily my view 😉 ).
These are all pens, and should be treated as such. Intellectual Property rights should be respected, but haven't always been, by any party globally.
For the record, German patent protection is usually 20 years; US 14-20 years, as was pointed out to TWSBI. Let's get over ourselves a bit - this isn't a fake, a counterfeit or, when it comes to it, a copy. It has taken a lot of style cues from Lamy, but from two different models even.
And now let's just write. ✍️
You can’t just go and be reasonable like that, you know.
@@JG3Reviews 😆😆😆
Thank you very much for reminding us what its really important
Thanks for your cool review and poignant conclusion. I own a Lamy 2000. I love it for how it performs: not for its looks! I rarely carry it because I have so many other options. Some are absolutely gorgeous pens. I do like many many things about the Lamy and it gets a lot of use at home, because it’s an incredible writer. But, in my opinion, the 2000 isn’t much of a looker compared to some of the Sailors, Pilots, Pelikans, and Montblancs that I own. WIth that said, I find it amusing that this Chinese company would choose to copy only the “looks”, of the 2000; its least attractive attribute. Thanks again for your video. Nice work.
I’m glad they did though, so poor pen collectors like me can try the dimensions out before spending a huge amount on something they may hate because it isn’t comfortable for their writing style. It protects lamy from disgruntled customers badmouthing their pen, so that’s a good thing. I now know that I’d never love a lamy 2000 because I don’t enjoy the size that much.
Concluding wisdom transfers well to other arenas! RE branding: Jinhao could put their chariot on the upper finial. Or, tiny, on the clip. The pen does look like a good deal. Thanks for the review, brother!
I’d like the chariot on the finial, but May the lord prevent them from making the clip hideous
I've never been interested in the Lamy 2000. Because it's a piston filler. But the Jinhao 80 has made me question myself. I really like the look and feel in the had of the 80. I do like that it uses a converter. Makes me with that the Lamy 2000 was either a vac filler or had a converter model.
Check out OdE's older Lamy 2000 video. (Think it's a first generation.) The Jinhao 80 is closer to that one, but still OdE points out they're still a definite difference.
Branding stamped or imprinted used to be a good indicator, but the high end pens have been blurring the lines, as tastes change. In the past, the higher end pens have branding on almost every visible surface. The lower end budget pens are VERY difficult to determine the brand fairly often, in the past. (Or in the case of the one that got sued by Waterman's, the name on the clip was almost identical to Waterman's.)
The 80 did take inspiration from the 2000, I'm pretty sure, but in no way is it a "copy" even. The Lamy design I'm sure is well out of copyright, so fair game.
Are the Kaigelu and Jinhao "Duofold types" actually Duofold types? No. They just look like almost every pen made in the 1920s, not just the Duofold. Similar design has been a thing since the first fountain pen. One might call a Montblanc Meisterstück 149 a Sheaffer's Balance copy. How many others are at the least frighteningly similar to Parker 51s or 45s, from highly regarded companies? Even the ubiquitous lever filler of the past was basically a "stolen" Sheaffer's design.
Make your own decision. Copy good or bad? Ethics? Politics? Wasn't Jinhao that Parker sold their designs to, making the hooded nib so common in Chinese pens. Was basically the Chinese government... So where does the blame rest?🤔
If you shop at most stores today, you've probably bought Chinese products, so "I'm not supporting a communist country" is really kind of hypocritical, IMO. Like the "Out of a job, yet? Keep buying foreign." bumper stickers of a few years ago. Generally on 'Murican Ford F150s made in Mexico, or Chrysler minivans with engine made in Japan from Chinese steel, and Canadian sheet metal. 😁
There's global components in most everything, and there's only so many ways to make a pen. Jinhao is actually listening to feedback, and is tweaking their products, unlike other ones that have sat on questionable designs for a while.
You're not going to really get a single origin pen today, like you can with a cup of coffee. Italian with German nibs. French with Chinese and Indian parts. "Bespoke" British with outsourced parts...
Rant over, I'll climb down off my soap box. 😁
My take is: is it a pen that fits your needs and you like? Go for it! I don't have a single pen I've gotten to attempt to "fool" someone or that I really don't like, and I have more than a few.
If you really want an American pen, you kind of have to get one from the 1950s or earlier. Other than the occasional nib or other components getting shipped to another country for use (there's NYC nibs in some British Mabie Todd pens, and Janesville nibs in UK Parker pens from around WWII, for example.) And a not copied design, for the most part? (Lever was a Sheaffer's design, so...) Get a double jewel Esterbrook, and make sure it says "made in USA." 😁
Just enjoy what you are writing with.
I appreciate your comments at the end! Thanks for the great video :)
Best conclusion..
I own Both pens and like m Both..
Deel insider if geel the difference
I really dislike the Lamy 2000 so I have no problem with the Jinhao. I prefer cc pens to pistons and I love the swappable nib. And the price difference it's a win/win to me.
I love the pen but the nib needs a replacement. Lamy nib is too expensive, so I found some medium nibs for it.
Great review. I really appreciated your message at the end. Well said.
Nice ending reflection. Just a pen for sure.
There is no issue about price when ordering a Jinhao 80, just a minor issue about waiting for its delivery.
Buying the original pen is much more expensive, and then there is the question as to which nib is best for it. Here we can try both to pen format (except for its weight and grip) and the nib, as we can swap it with a Lamy nib.
If we find we like the pen and nib, then we are ready to order the real thing.
Frankly, if I could not test it before buying it, I would not even consider buying the Lamy 2000. So the homage or clone may also prove to be more helpful than hurting Lamy, in bringing to it customers it would not have otherwise.
I have one with ef nib and i liked it. I call it Jimy 2k (JInhao+LaMY). :-D
I have the 80 with the black clip.
I hate piston filler pens and hooded nibs.
I have several Jinhao 80s and love them. The black grip is great, plus the ability to swap Lamy Safari nibs on to them.
To be quite frank, I don't give a damn' whether a Jinhao looks very much like a Lamy 2000, because I know that I can buy almost 200 Jinhao 80s for the price of one Lamy 2000. Secondly, I never (and neither should anyone, I contend) buy a pen based on whether it looks like an expensive pen. The price alone should tell you the difference! Thirdly, as a pensioner with a very limited budget, but an unlimited love for fountain pens, I would much rather own an inexpensive pen like the Jinhao 80 AND enjoy it, than not have any pens of the same quality. Let's face it, I will never be able to afford a Lamy 2000, or even the Lamy 80 Profil to which the Jinhao is a homage. But I can afford and enjoy the Jinhao, and, as you say, it is just a pen. I love my Jinhaos (I own 34 of them), and the 80 is no exception.
👍💯❤️
Thanks for the review
I have a ji hai 80 and ordered 2 more . The nibs are good and are easy to swap. I swapped a lanyard 1.1 stub from a lady safari and now like the ninjas better than the safari. I have written with the 2000 and enjoyed it but never had an interest in buying one no matter the price. This jinhai is really fun.
Honest review !!!
No one is going to not buy a Lamy 2000 because the Jinhao 80 exists. If Lamy made this pen with a steel Lamy nib and a Z24/Z28 converter, they could probably charge $50-$60 for it and have a killer product that would sell well.
I believe that the shiny black Hero pen is actually the Hero 565 rather than the 616
That’s correct. 👍🏼
God bless you too sir! Youre right, we're all image bearers of God & should treat each other as such, by Gods grace & objective truth. We're all more valuable than a pen, guaranteed!
Was wondering should I say Thank you for the Words Is Just Pen! Love is bigger with human being. The generousity of Parker is still appreciated ...when we were kids my parents n almost everyone would choose a more expensive pen like the Parker Sheaffers Steatler over Hero's Pilot etc etc . ..but in these days who knows whether the Lamy has been sold or partnership JV which is going on so much between Nations...❤️🧡💜💚🌿🌏🌎🌍🖊️✒️
Tq again
I think there is a bad side and a good side of the Jinhao semi knock offs. They damage the work of the original designers , but they do show that sometimes we are indeed very overcharged when we buy the originals. That kind of forces the market to keep itself under control.
This although can also happen from a more legitimate form, from which I think the metropolitan is the best example. It is a pen as good if not superior to several pens that cost 10 times more. This type of pen forces the market in a more reasonable price plateau , by proving that the quality argument does not justify certain prices. Jinhao is an example that , well design may be cool , but it only goes up to a certain level in importance.
I think if they had changed the clip I would be more tempted to consider the jinhao version, especially in a different colour as mentioned by someone else here. Inspiration from an old pen has some merits. I do prefer the j51a(hooded) to the modern parker vector (more sturdy threads which is nice). I haven't had issues with the jinhao nibs in the past, but accept the legit platinum prefounte & Lamy Safari nibs are better writers.
You mention the Jinhao nib is interchangable with Lamy nibs (on the Safari and Al-Star) and unless they have made a change within the past two years, that is not true in my experience. I have tried to put a Lamy nib on a jinhao and a Jinhao on a Lamy and the are NOT the same dimensions at all.
I think it is a change around that time period. You may have had the same nib I had on my first two Jinhao 599s. They were narrower than Lamy's, but a similar look. More recent versions are swappable, and I've had better writers since the change, too.
Is Jinhao 80 available with “M” nib?
I haven't seen any for sale, *but* you can easily find M nibs to swap out for the 80. They'll also take genuine Lamy nibs, too, which can be reasonably inexpensive from some sellers.
19:30 His 2nd thing he wanted to say
One question I have on this Jinhao is whether the clip is sprung at the back in the same way as the 2000. Is that something you can clarify please? That's one of the major things I like about my 2000.
In terms of the Kaco Edge, I have several, both of the originals and the newer colour options. I hate the "clip" but my main issue is not cap cracking as I've not seen that problem; it's that every single one of my Edges dries out after just a day or two without use. That's irrespective of whether they are stored nib up or nib down, irrespective of the ink used and irrespective of whether I go with the supplied Schmidt K1 converter, a K5 converter or a cartridge. Every one of mine feels like a dud in this regard so they've sat unloved in my pen cases ever since. I don't particularly regret buying them as it allowed me to try them out, but I can't see myself ever buying more.
The clip is sprung. Don't own a Lamy, so don't know how close it is to that.
I forgot to take a good look at the clip on video, but yes, it is sprung and works well.
@@JG3Reviews Thanks.
@@KGatLC Thanks.
Kaco Edge with a useless "clip" is vad design, even if it didn't crack and actually worked well. After many iteration it seems it doesn't crsck as soon as you look at it, but it is still not a good pen. I am sure that the Jinhao 80 is superior in this regard.
Sorry to be pedantic, but the Lamy 2000 section is stainless steel, not aluminium.
Oops! That’s not pedantic, that’s right. Man. Brain farts abound some days. The Edge’s section is the one that’s aluminum.
😇🩵🙏🙌
This a total non issue. They are both made of black plastic with similar clips. That’s it. The nibs are completely different style and design. One is a piston filler while the other uses cartridges or a converter. One costs ten bucks, the other goes for two hundred. It’s like a VW Beatle with a 4 banger air cooled rear mounted engine compared to a Toyota Prius with its hybrid gas/electric front mounted drive. They are totally dissimilar. I typically love your reviews but this is hype driven nonsense.
That’s kind of my point at the end, I think the Jinhao is a great pen (and I like the Kaco more than most, I think). Once you move past the exterior there is a great desk separating them.
Stamping the clip or cap with "Jinhao 80" would leave a lot of feathers unruffled and would ultimately benefit consumers who would easily know the make and model of their pen. Jinhao should lean into their own reputation for quality products at budget prices and make the brand name a source of pride.
Agreed 👍🏼
I don’t feel it will confuse a fountain pen user, as there are few casual users to the point one wouldn’t know a lamy 2000 from a Jinhao 80 upon receipt. But if I want to buy another 80 in a different color it could help me if the model and maker are on the pen somewhere. I have 3 80s, and an edge. Lamy 2000 might be my Christmas pen this year. I feel these “clones” are a gateway to the investment pens, and I don’t think it hurts their business. No one stops wanting a lamy 2000 because they got a Jinhao 80 that scratched that itch. Who are we kidding?
Jinhao 80 is a homage to the discontinued Lamy 80, The Lamy 80 was actually homage for a different brand.
Jinhao 80 isn't even trying to competing with the Lamy 2K.
I love this pen. So much so thar I'm ordering 4 more. I write fiction and poetry. It is literally just a TOOL for me.
If the Jinhao 777s had .03 nibs I would own 10 of them, all Black.
Have a blessed day 🙏.
Thanks for mentioning the Lamy 80, I had never even seen this pen, and I’m surprised I hadn’t seen or heard the comparison, yet. Maybe Lamy ought to consider reviving the design as well as the Jinhao 80 has been received.
Thanks for helping to educate about the provenance of the Jinhao. I’ve tired of the suggestion that it’s trying to be the L2K. So many differences, C/C, exposed nib, all plastic, no Lamy branding, cap click on section flare. Clearly inspired by the Lamy 80.
For me personally, it looks just too similar to a 2000 where it starts to rub me the wrong way. But I also feel like this pen isn't stealing sales from Lamy. I feel like if you want a Lamy 2000, then you want something different than what this pen is offering.
I like the jinhao 80 because its like $ 200 x ish cheaper than a lamy 2000 and it works just fine :)
Thanks for the ink sample! We were traveling, so I haven’t gotten to try it out, yet, but looks cool. 👍🏼
The nib needs to be better.
I'm not saying I think this pen or the Kaco Edge are entirely unproblematic or anything, but the notion that any cartridge/converter pen without a hooded nib could be considered such a close copy of the Lamy 2000 as to be a dubious clone seems silly to me. Like... aren't those the Lamy 2000's most distinctive features? How can something be a clone when it changes the most distinct feature?
I was thinking that Jinhao could have differentiated it from the Lamy by putting a honking great shield in the middle of the clip, 159 style ;). Good review - also gave me a new appreciation of the Lamy 2k, and ended on a very important point.
😆 At the shield. Thanks!
I cannot tell you how grateful I am that the X159 doesn't have that awful shield 😄
The Jinhao 80 design is based on the Lamy 80, not the L2K.
I have a Lamy 2000, and to me the Jinhao 80 is not a true L2K clone. I've written with both my Jinhao 80s more than my Lamy 2000. The
Lamy 2000 is made with Makrolon carbonate with a brushed stainless steel section; the Jinhao made with ABS plastic, and is much lighter
in weight and not as broad a pen. The material has the look of the L2K, but definitely not of the same quality. L2K is a piston filler, with a
frosty ink window. Jinhao 80 is a converter/cartridge pen. Nib for the L2K: Gold rhodium plated hooded nib. Jinhao 80-stainless steel
nib. My L2K: $150. Jinhao 80: I paid $13.79 for two. According to Doug of Inkquiring Minds, the nib can be swapped with a Lamy nib.
A Lamy nib cost $16. I am currently using my Jinhao 80s at work, and they are a joy to write with.
A little off topic, but… I have 3 Kaco Edges. Have had them for about 2 years and no cracking issues at all. I swapped in Goulet no 5 nibs, and love them!
this one is now available via aliexpress vendors in new colors: rd,brw,bl,gr with gold ornaments -- maybe after reading some comments concerning the improved quality of the nib will give this a try, specially now with the new batch of colors ... will see --- also love your final "just a pen" comment, right on point
I own two Lamy 2000s, and ordered one of these Jinhao 80 and I must say I really enjoy writing with it.
I ordered two and when they arrive I'm going to swap the nib on one of them with a 1.1mm stub.
I have an 80 on the way, and there's a Lamy Left Hand nib waiting for it - I am excited!
That jinhao is superb and 4 $ ! … any objection or everyone need to buy a 175 ? … what for ? Even considering jinghao 80 writes 80 times better than Lamy. We do not have budget for Ferrari !! …
Thanks for the review! I just got my Jinhao 80 today and I am quite happy with it. I can also see the seam marks on the cap and barrel quite clearly and this gives away the fact that the pen parts are injection moulded. Doesn't bother me for a pen at this price though.
It is a bit sad that you had to express or explain the opinion of pens, in general and that people take offense or find that manufacturers such as Jinhao would borrow a design for their pen. Like you said it is just a pen.
I had a Lamy 2000 years ago. I did not like it due to the nib. It was too wet and the nib wrote too wide. Love the design, though. If I found another similarly designed pen that I liked, well, I would buy it.
I also had the Kaco Edge and found the material used on the section to be too slippery.
Would I try the Jinhao 80? If their nib was more suited to my taste, certainly.
There are so many examples of pen manufacturers "appropriating" designs from each other that the point of having similar looking pens as a fraudulent action is pointless. Look at the 135 you just reviewed. Similar to the Montblanc? Yes, is it the same?, No. Should Jinhao added their new to the body? Perhaps. But the pen is not identical.
Look at all the pens that have the Parker arrow clip. Do you know Parker granted China permission years ago to use their design?
Pity that this has to be brought up at all.
Like you said it is just a pen.
I got JH 80 and it works well. I don't think it is a Lamy but it writes well and clip especially is really nice and springy and works for me
I was waiting your review about Jinhao 80 ..thank you James.
Jinhao is rolling on fast into FP world..that's for sure.
I think that for the price it is with a great use ( comfortable grip)..and for even enhanced value it can be used with lamy Z50 1.1 sub nib or lamy LX nib.
I really like my Jinhao 80, I got the blackout version with F nib. Super good writer and easy to clean/refill. For a $10 pen I think it's certainly worth getting even if you have to say "Yeah it's not a Lamy 2000" if someone else sees it.
I would be hard pressed to think of a pocket fountain pen that would outperform the Jinhao 80 Fiber. It is under $10, indestructible, looks good and writes reliably and well. Being Lamy Z50 nib compatible makes it like a Model A Ford, you can tinker with it in all sorts of ways and you still have an inexpensive, durable and well writing pen. You can also get lots of them in all sorts of colors and make your own combinations, if that is your sort of thing (it is mine). I choose to ignore the homage aspect of this pen and, instead, look at the Jinhao 80 Fiber as a Peoples' Pen. In that role, this pen is absolutely terrific!
I agree, I bought the Jinhao 80. They needed to do something to set the pen apart.
Another great pen that I would love to see you review if you have not is the Monteverde Invincia stealth Black fountain pen. I think it is a game changer. It is one that I keep inked up.
What a great message at the end there, James. I can’t beat that message but I will add it’s all about what you do with the pen too that counts. At the end of the day it’s the words that count and the pens just embellish them. Write good stuff! I do love your focus on more entry level pens. Folks like us want to know more about accessible pens than expensive pens.
I have a Jinhao 80 EF and really like it. The nib is extremely smooth for a extra fine nib. It’s comfortable to write with for extended periods of time. Mine is the all-black version and therefore somewhat different from the Lamy 2000. But then. I like inexpensive fountain pens.
I like the idea of the all black, I keep grabbing the wrong pen. lol
Just a quick update. I really like this pen, but this morning I had the cap of the pen fall apart. The cap insert that joins the body of the pen came out with the pen when I went to write something. Apparently it’s held in by a nut attachment to the finial. The nut has disappeared. Be careful and don’t fiddle with the top of the pen when capped. I’ll fire a way for a jury rig repair. It’s a very good pen otherwise.
It's a pen. There's only so many shapes, styles, textures, and colors available for a writing utensil. Should I be priced out of a decently priced pen and pay hundreds of times more because one brand made it first? I'm on a secretary's salary here and simply can't afford hundreds of dollars for a pen, no matter how nice it is. I'm grateful for Jinhao making affordable versions of these pens so I can also enjoy this hobby.
Great that nibs are compatible, LOVE the non aluminum grip (Aluminum in the Human body is the road to ALS!!!) but a massive FAILURE to communicate with non-euro/rest of the world CARTRIDGE compatability w/re-INKs! IOHO!
Ho-HO!!! ;)
How does the writing experiance (nib feeling) compare?
I love your reviews...but the concluding remark is so beautiful... believe it or not I have just placed an order for J 80 after watching this video..Lamy 2k is way too expensive for me and it will take me a considerable time to grab one..in the meantime j 80 will be perfect..loads of ❤️ from India
The Jinhao 80 rules, use it with Lamy Azurite ink. It's a very reliable pen, works always. I like the Lamy pens but the Jinhao rules compared to the Lamy price to be honest. ;-)
Concerning "copies" with different names, Fender Stratocaster has been copied by other guitar makers, since 1958, which is 4 years after the first Stratocaster. I own a non-Fender Stratocaster, and it never bothered me, and the copiers have been around for decades. I feel the same way about fountain pens.
Yes, I would give respect to one pothole before sitting on another, respect to chromium before using Google Chrome 😆😆😆😆 respect coke before Pepsi uhuhuhuhu
Greetings from Australia.
Wonderful video.
Thanks very much.
I don't support companies that rip off others' intellectual property. No matter how good the product is, it's still a shameless copy.
Buen día. Después de apenas 1 mes de uso, la apariencia externa de las plumas cambia y se "pierde" la apariencia de superficie esmerilada y se vuelven "brillantes". Para recuperar la apariencia, en dos de las estilográficas hice un ensayo: usé un papel de lija # 100 (bastante agresivo) y con cuidado, haciendo trazos rectos a lo largo de la estilográfica la rallé totalmente.
En el primer momento el color se vuelve un poco grisoso, pero con los días retoma el color negro original (no lo hice en ninguna de las de otros colores) y la apariencia de esmerilado volvió a estar presente. Espero que no tenga que repetirlo y que el rallado que hice sea suficiente. Obviamente que esto solo se podrá hacer unas pocas veces. Cordial saludo
I m a FP newbie but am very frustrated with my Jinhao 80. It is such a hard start. When I finally get it flowing it writes nice and smooth. It takes many attempts to get it flowing even if it has just been capped an hour. What can i do with it besides trashing it?
This pen looks like a combination of Lamy Profil 80 and Lamy 2000. Well a copy of those 2 pens.
Haven't watch the video yet but "Laminhaoco" in the thumbnail really cracked me up😂
How many clones of the MB 146/149 are there?
Nailed it.
Does it take Parker cartridges?
Love you ending point, thank you. C
I dont know why, but im negative biased toward "lamy style" nibs -- i had a bad experience with a generic pen using this kind of nib (always drying out) and even using jinhaos with the same style nib my exprience has not improve, so this one will be a pass for me -- I prefer a regular #5 o #6 nib -- concerning the converter I've noticed that for lamy style nib jinhao uses 3.4mm converters instead of the regular 2.6
The Kaco clip is a roll stop, true but for me that works, and I adore the nib and cap snap. I ordered the blue one to go with my black one. Although it’s a big price jump. I don’t feel it’s a threat to the lamy 2000. More like a stepping stone. I really never saw the appeal of the 2000 until I got my hands on the edge. The 80 is just a boring, plain pen with a cosmetic resemblance to the 2000. For one thing, no one in my local community is going to know I’m trying to look fancy because I carry a plain black plastic pen 😂, and if I found a small pocket of fountain pen hardcore preppers holed up on a compound in the wilderness (my fantasy) that I could join, they would all take a glance at it and look down their noses and tell me “oh! The Jinhao 80! Fine for babies! *sniff*” 😂
🤣
I would be a hypocrite if I said I was opposed to this pen but not to the Majohn M800. That said, I have a few Leonardos and several Lamys, including two 2000’s. The clones can give you only a hint of what the real pen is, but for those on a budget, maybe a hint is enough. For me, at this point in my collection, I’ll stick to the real deal.
Well M800 is pretty close in construction, heft, weight, feel, and function to a Leonardo. The Jinhao 80 on the other hand is nowhere close to Lamy, except when you look at it without holding it. Once you hold it, then you feel the difference in construction, material weight, and feel, as it is lighter, and less durable being injection molded plastic instead of the macralon. And once the cap is off, it is entirely different. Gives you no idea what Lamy 2000 will be like to use, while the M800 gives you a good idea what writing with Leonardo will be.
True.
Hi I'm a great fan of your channel.
How abt a reviev: parker 51 2021 vs jinhao 86....I think it's much needed.
I compared the new 51 and the 85, which is the same as the 86, but metal. The comparison of the 86 would be even closer, since they are more like the new 51 in materials.
In my opinion, the purpose of this pen is to help some pretend to own a Lamy 2000. Call it "inspired by, borrowed from..." or whatever, in the end it's theft. Why contribute to the bottom line of a company that steals design from others?
I said in another comment that they’re not stealing my business from lamy because I could never afford the 2000, but I wanted to try the design. Maybe someone will see mine and want one and think it is a lamy. In that case it might refer a new customer to lamy since they’re known for the design, and Jinhao not so much. Don’t be so hard on companies that cater to poor people like me. They are doing good for somebody, and plenty of buyers of these will develop into buyers for the real deal down the road.
"It seems 'copyright infringement doesn't translate into mandarin very well."
- Jeremy Clarkson
Always enjoy a good Clarkson quote. 😎
Great Review!
You have a beautiful way to review pens. Very much appreciate “this is just a pen”. Exactly! 🙌🙏🥰 Great reviews. Thank you.
Replace the nib with a genuine Lamy and you have a superb wet writing instrument. My best find this year.
thanks man, I replaced my Jinhao 80 nib with Lamy Charcoal edition EF nib and it writes really wet on my 100gsm printer paper!!
I have three Older Kaco Edge pens and every one of the caps cracked. Even if the new version doesn't crack I would still pull up on the clip, break it off, use a blunt tipped syringe needle to push the metal sleeve parallel to the Cap opening since it's the sleeve that most likely causes the Cap to crack as the Kakco Makrolon shrinks and expands due to temp and pressure. Kaco could have just as easily made a plastic Cap or added a Cap Ring to prevent cracking. As far as making "close copies" go, hopefully it will encourage one to buy the original later on. If the copy can indeed accept Lamy nibs, imagine installing a Lamy 14K nib on the $5 copy and ending up with it costing a little more than an original Studio with a Steel nib. Chances are that after awhile, eventually, one will get an original Studio and swap the Lamy 14K nib into it. Obviously only more advanced users will want a Gold nib, but even they may balk at paying the asking price of a Lamy Studio with a 14K nib, currently $167 and $183.
Good message at the end. I agree, It's just a pen. I bought a Jinhao 80 purely because I LOVE the aesthetics of the L2k but cannot afford one at this point in my collecting.
After receiving and writing with the original Jinhao 159 and appreciating it's beautiful writing ability, I ordered that Ka(We)Co Edge with the Medium Schmidt nib.
Just received it two days ago and once again, these "inspired" pens are really enjoyable to use. Apparently the pocket clip shape is aiming to mimick the blade sticking out of a pocket knife, hence the name. For the price, I find no faults.
BTW Kaco has that pen for 5 yrs at least :) so it isn't that new at all.
Right. They did say a little over a tear so that improved materials. This was around the time they introduces more colors.
I love your conclusion, James! - yes, we must never let different opinions divide our common humanity. Jesus said, in an honour-based culture, "whoever does the will of God is my mother, sister & brother," & nearly got lynched for it. These pens are just tools, as you say. Perspective!! Bless you.
I have no problem with taking heavy inspiration in design for any product as long as it isn't trying to deceive. I want all people to enjoy a quality writing instrument regardless of income bracket. That being said, please consider the true cost of these pens. Slave labor and genocide. There are great inexpensive pens that don't support the CCP