I really like the Eco, but that he section does not separate is a bit of a disappointment. I have a blunt nose syringe but it does not go onto that small hole. Too fat.
I don't think it is. But it depends what I'm using for. For personal things I don't really care, but for more "formal" things I do like a nice crisp line.
I would have dinged the Leonardo on price and the Wingsung e comes the winner. I do have Leonardo MZG and love it, but I got a great price at less than $200 from a European retailer. The Wingsung looks a lot like my Jinhao X159 which I prefer due to a cartridge converter filling system. Thanks for the video.
I love your videos and posts! As a newbie to the fountain pen lifestyle, I have fallen in love with the flat head Wing Sung 630 (I have 3 now). I also have a Darailpenz custom with a Jowo medium nib and a Jinhao 82 I've inked with Ferris Wheel Press Billowing Blush. My next purchase will probably be a Sailor Professional Gear or the Wing Sung 632 with the 18K nib.
Nice showdown video Gary. I have a Wing Sung 630 with a fine #8 size nib that is just fantastic. As for Leonardo, I do not own one so I can't comment on them. I think they've made some beautiful pens, but I just have no desire to acquire one for my collection. Now, if you were to compare the 630 to say a Pineider Avatar Twin Tank Touchdown I'd be all over that!!
You mentioned that the 630 has a Jinhao #8 nib. A bit of a flub. I think the Eco is about the same width of the Carene. I think it is a bit surprising that the 630 and the MZG have approximately the same barrel girth. I thought the 630 was wider. For my hand the MZG feels more comfortable. I do not have the same section as you as they changed it with the MZG 2.0. I did an ink capacity test with the 630. It holds 2.0 ml. The MZG is 1.5 ml. As they are about identical weight, it seems the resin on the MZG is either thicker or slightly heavier. It may be the ink but the 630 has a wider line than the MZG. I think the 630 has a wetter nib and feed combination. This is not to say the MZG is a dry writer. I love both pens. They will remain in my collection permanently. The 630 is such a good performer that I have no real interest in acquiring a MB 149. If I was to get another MZG, it would be for an ink window. I do agree with your assessment; the MZG is a better pen. If nothing else, their resins are outstanding. Great comparison, Garry.
Thanks. All went well and I'm back home now. My biggest issue is my throat is really painful from the air tube so I'm struggling to talk at the moment, which has really pleased my son. I'm wandering around carrying a cheap notepad and my PensByCasey pen with a 1.1 nib so I can write notes to them.
I am glad I found a 100 that works for me. It is the black hollow version, the metal overlay. Nice size and weight. It comes with a black nib that is in very smooth. This version is also very nice.
Thanks Gary - Thorough and well done. 👍 FWIW the nibs are made by Yowo. I had a spare Diplomat size 6 nib and the metal part was a perfect fir for the Vac 700R No. 6 nib. A very nice upgrade to a great pen.
I enjoyed your review. I really like the Homo Sapiens. I bought the Sapphire Stones demonstrator on sale from Goldspot a few years ago but wasn’t completely satisfied with the nib. Last month I purchased the Crystal Dreams edition and it is without defect, the medium nib writes like butter and feels so comfortable in my hand. My husband purchased the Dark Crystal version and is glad he did. He prefers the more substantial sized pens. My other favorite EDC pens are the Pelikan M1000 Renaissance Brown, Pilot Vanishing Nib LS & Custom 823, and the Lamy 2000. Over the last few years I’ve developed the philosophy of buying the item I really want rather than a lesser substitute. I’m unhappy with it, and eventually get the originally desired item. Wasted money. 😛👋🏾
This is a tough month for me. As to ranking at the start of the month: 6. Jinhao 80 5. That Pen Bloke 4. Fuliwen 017 3. Platinum 3776 2. TWSBI 580 1. Leonardo MZG Of course this could change throughout the month.
Garry, the Jinhao, like its stable mate the X159, is inexpensive, yet works first time every time even if left for a couple of weeks. The VFM should be 10/10. They are not Montblancs, but they do what it says on the tin and do it very well. I cannot comment on usage or feel of the Majohn because I don't own one, but observationally and based on your comments: the weight would be an issue for me, I am sure I would dislike the section (thin and polished chrome) and it just looks off (disproportioned?). The nib like a nail, well Chinese steel nibs rarely have much bounce (the WingSung 630 being my exception to that rule), but I find Jinhao nibs generally smooth with the right amount of feedback. Based on your assessment I would have scored the Jinhao above the Majohn, just sayin'......
I always struggle with the value for money part. Rather than judging the pens against each other I try and come up with a score when looking at the pen in relation to others in the same price range. I'll try and remember to mention this in the videos I record going forward.
@@GarryEves My birthday is on 1 August. I convinced my wife on either a Parker Sonnet Cisele or a Platinum President. I haven't decided on which. What would your choice be?
@@paulmchugh1430 If it was me I'd go for the Platinum. I've got a Sonnet from 2009, it's a nice enough pen but I've found all the Parker nibs I have tend to be a bit disappointing.
Interesting ranking Gary. As for the Sheaffer nib catching, that may have been the result of grinding the nib into a cursive Italic. You just need to get a good look at it through the loop, and smooth it out with some micromesh. I don't have the C3, but I do love my C4 and no converter to mess with. My 992's are some of the smoothest writing Jinhao in my collection!!
There is a fuliwen website with loads of different models. Every time I've visited I've found it so slow that it is nearly unusable. I haven't tried it for over 6 months now, so they may have improved it.
I think I mentioned the Sport being #1 at the beginning of the month. That the Prelude is #2 was a good choice. Really a good selection of pens, Garry. The surprise for me was that the Kaweco nib for in the Jotter. When I swap nibs I have to look at the size of the feed. Bock does not fit well on Jowo feeds, as an example. As for the other pens, I just cleaned out my Eco. I discovered the section cannot be removed. Cleaning the barrel was a little bit of a chore. Onto August.
Taking a chance on the Majohn C3 so far so good . Will probably eyedrop it after I empty the converter. Thanks for the Kaweco nib tip. Where is the best place to get them online?
I am liking the 80, especially since I sealed the end of the barrel and made it an eyedropper. I am going to give the nib some time. Maybe it will smooth out with repeated use...
It's not an easy question to answer as there are lots of factors, including the nib being used and the ink. I also tend to use cheaper paper, bought from the local supermarket, Most of my pens work OK, with a little bit of ink showing through onto the back of the paper, but with some pens and inks I get loads which makes the back of the paper unusable. Also, sheening inks do not show any sheen when used on cheaper paper. The best thing to do is to experiment.
Hi Garry - Nice list! I enjoyed watching this video, probably as much as you had filming it :-) Coming up with my own list was a fun exercise! I'd re-purchase the following - I googled current availability and have posted the lowest current price in USD: - Lamy Studio in brushed stainless steel with the rubberized grip - $54 - Retro 51 Tornado Buzz / Honey Bee - I just love this pen - $93.20 - Studyo Agackakan V1 - I have the Teal Agate (sold out at Galen, showing my price) - $180 - Caran d'Ache 849 in Red - $48.50 - Tibaldi Infrangible in Ginger Beige (sold out, showing my price) - $115 Total if my math is correct: $490 USD Hmmmm $10 more to spend - would probably get a Jinhao 51A. Cheers
hmmm, so I’ve got £250 and I’m wondering which pens in my currently inked collection I’d buy again - I’ve got small handwriting so all my pens have Japanese EF nibs which I know you’d hate but that’s what I’ve got also they’re by Pilot, Sailor and Platinum only: would want a Sailor pro gear with the mostly rhodium plated 21k nib which I’d ink with GvFC cobalt blue (£200) and a Pilot prera demonstrator with blue endstops and I’d swap out it’s nib for an EF from my collection (£25) and would ink that w Lamy blue, I’d also buy a Pilot 78g+ in blue/grey which I might ink w Platinum pigmented blue ink (£16) and I’d also want a burgundy Pilot DPP70 which I’d ink w Pelikan 4001 black (£14); think I might be slightly over but prices on Ali Express fluctuate so I’d buy on good day!; Platinum hasn’t done too well here as I ran out of money but I’d definitely miss my Platinum 3776 in Chartres blue w rhodium trim which is currently inked w Diamine imperial blue!; thanks for this:)
Drat, youtube appears to have eaten my comment! Apologies if it turns up again and I've doubled. I really like this exercise because it made me look at what I REALLY use the most and would miss, and what specifically, I'd miss about it, if my collection were gone. I focused on my everyday reliables. With remorse, then, I would not replace my unusual colorway Aurora Talentum, even though I COULD, as I found one on ebay for 276 USD. $500 in prices today: Benu Skull and Roses Gamma Green Broad (Goldspot) 172 (I'd have been devastated) Sailor PGS, new colorway due to availability (endlesspens sale) 140.80 Aurora Ipsilon Green, vintage, medium (EBAY, NOS) 98.05 Pilot Metro, orange, M nib (Amazon) 23.43 and the con-40 5.60. With what's left, I'd find the best Parker Vac in need of repairs I feel confident to do on either ebay or etsy. There are several in that window. I've never found a nicer pen to hold in the hand.
Thanks. It's one of the reasons I like doing videos like this where I need to really think about my assemblage of pens. I've started tracking when I use each pen so I can see the ones I use most.
I've got several Hongdian pens and each is an excellent writer. My favourite in the N11, a very inexpensive pen. Another favourite is my Monteverde "Trees of the World.
Really good video Garry ! I just believe that australian math aren’t the same anymore ;). Pretty sure that 406,24 + 21,25 can’t be 428,24. The cents can’t work like 24+25=24. Great concept though !
That is likely to me suffering from fat finger syndrome and not typing the values into the presentation correctly. I did have all the values calculated in a spreadsheet. I shall give mnyself a stern talking to.
I'm using $500US, online prices today. Remember, I'm a drawer, not a writer. 1. Sailor King of Pen <M> = $408. 2. Faber-Castell e-Motion <EF> = $69 $477 3. Pilot Parallel <3.8> = $9 $496 4. Jinhao 82 <Fude> =$3 $499 I could get by just fine with these four. So why the heck do I have 50 pens?
Love this video idea! Very nice list. Just for fun, my picks for €300 (which is roughly equivalent to 500 AUD): 1. *Opus 88 Jazz Holiday* (€100), most comfortable pen in my collection. 2. *TWSBI Eco* (€40), very functional, always ready to use, great for work; 3. *Asvine V126* (~€30), to use in combination with the Eco as an EDC, it's kinda cheap, so I'm not too concerned if I damage it or if I loose it; 4. *PenBBS 456* (~€50), the nib is so much fun; 5. A *cheap pen with a fude nib* (Jinaho 100 e.g.) for about €20/€30, it's great for art. With the remaining money (€50/€60) I would try to buy a *used Pilot 74* on eBay (they frequently sell for ~€45 + shipping).
I like your priorities. Especially from a comfort standpoint. Everything on my list except the Metro which is a little heavy for me (but such a good sport about glitter ink) is something I can write with for days. Otherwise, what's the point?
Two pocket pens and I have both and agree with their inclusion.. I am really tempted by the Majohn M800. I would not rebuy the Pen BBS 323 in the aluminum version, it is too slick, but a resin version would be great.
Other than the Kaweco Sport (I am still deciding whether I like the pen or not.), this is a very good list. My choices would be: Jinhao 9016 Nahvalur Schuylkill Conklin All American Eyedropper Asvine V200 Pilot Custom 743 This is based on what I paid using AUD 500
Wow, decent list. I'll try. Assuming a $500 US dollar budget. 1. A Platinum 3776 Century with a Soft Fine nib, $108.00 2. A Montegrappa Team Fox F nib, $119.00 3. Lamy 2000 EF nib, $140.49 4. Twsbi Eco 1.1 mm stub nib, $32.99 5. Jinhao 80 F nib, $5.24 6. NOS Pilot Elite, EF nib, &29.95 7. Spare Lamy nibs M, B, 1,5mm, and 1,9mm. $40 Total $477.67 You won't find these prices at brick and mortar stores, but can easily find them online with a little effort. Thanks for the video Gary, I quite enjoyed it.
