[O'Hare]

Being able to get different line widths with one pen is very interesting to me, so I'm thinking about buying a Sailor. Do all Sailor pens have that type of nib, or just certain models? Are the different line widths from holding the pen at a lower (or higher) angle, or from turning the pen sideways or upside-down?

[vision35]

Here's a good explanation of the Sailor Zoom nib.

Nibs.com web page on Sailor nibs

[BillTheEditor]

The 4-in-1 nib is a low-budget device intended mainly for Chinese/Japanese writing. It comes on the Sailor Superscript and Sailor Profit Superscript pens. These are, respectively, $15 and (I think) $30. Variation in line width is produced by raising or lowering the angle of the nib to the paper. You can buy these pens from Pendemonium (www.pendemonium.com). I have one of each of these pens, and use one of them with Noodler's Firefly as a highlighter.

The Zoom nib is only available for certain models. You can get them for the full-size 1911s, full-size color 1911s, and the International 1911s, among others. Best (most comprehensive) base for information about Sailor pens, nibs, and which are available with what is at Nibs.com.

You get variation in line width with a Zoom nib the same way as for the 4-in-1: by changing the angle of the pen to the paper (raising = narrow line, lowering = wide line).

I was looking at Zoom nibs and spoke to Sam at Pendemonium earlier this year. She advised that the Zoom nib would probably not suit most people -- who would not really have a practical use for all that variation. Lots of money for questionable utility (unless you write in ideographs). So I passed.

This post has been edited by BillTheEditor: 02 November 2006 - 06:04 AM

[wiglaf]

You may wish to look at the Togi nib- the line variation occurs when one moves from a normal writing angle to verticality.

[O'Hare]

Thank you VERY much! The link and BillTheEditor sharing experience with Pendemonium is just what I need to make a decision.

[fjf]

I have a 1911 with a naginata nib and it is something similar to what you describe for the zoom: fine upside down, medium at normal inclination, broad at more horizontal angle. Very smooth. Nice. Maybe a bit too broad for regular use, though. But this is debatable, depends on your taste.

[wmbrady]

I have a Salior 1911 with music nib. This nib is designed for variable line width, I don't think that the zoom nib is. It's pretty easy to work width and would be a good place to start.

My favorite however is my original (early import) Namiki Falcon with the <SF> nib. It makes beautiful lines and its clear that the lines are being made by a fountain pen. It does require a light touch. My later Falcon in a <SB> nib is harder to master.

-Bill Brady

[Margana]

I bought a zoom nibbed Sailor Superscript from Pendemonium over a year ago and the best use I've found for it is sketching. The variable width lines are very expressive and it is so convenient to get such variety from just one pen. That said, I do find it challenging to get a thick line with a clean outline but for artistic use this can be very appealing.

[BillTheEditor]

I bought a zoom nibbed Sailor Superscript from Pendemonium over a year ago and the best use I've found for it is sketching. The variable width lines are very expressive and it is so convenient to get such variety from just one pen. That said, I do find it challenging to get a thick line with a clean outline but for artistic use this can be very appealing.

That's a 4-in-1, surely. A Zoom nib is a very different animal, and is not available on the Superscripsit pens sfaik.