Hello,

This is meant as a friendly question, not a challenge to VP fans. I'm curious to know why people love VPs so much. I was pretty set on getting a Lamy 2000, but the unending and broad enthusiasm for the VPs makes me wonder if I wouldn't like those better.

Right now I only have a couple of disposable Pilot Varsity pens and a Lamy Safari.

Some day I'd like to have both, but for financial reasons that day is a LONG way away. I can get one soon.

So what are your thoughts on VPs in particular and in comparison to a Lamy 2000?

I don't have a Lamy 2000. I do use fountain pens extensively every day. I carry three or four. One is always my old VP, one is always an old "51" I think may be plum. The other one or two is always colored ink filled and many times a Flex-nib older pen.

I find I reach for the VP all the time for the short 'jot'. I use the "51" more when I know there will be a lot of writing. The VP has a finer point than the "51". I can use the VP one handed.

What I don't like is the small ink capacity. It does well with the fine point. I think if it had an expressive point I could easily go through a cartridge a day.

Ron

We (my wife) and I swear by our vanishing points for several reasons.

1. It's different. No one on my block owns one. Conversation starter.
2. It's convenient. For my wife, who does a ton of paperwork everyday, it's absolutely necessary because she can't have a pen drying out all the time. The clicker mechanism is really helpful. One-handed, works great, etc!
3. For me, the fine point. I'm really happy with the nib width. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

I also own a Lamy 2000, and it's hands-down the smoothest nib that I've ever written with. For me, its downfall (and there's only one) is that the nib runs so freakin' broad! I have broad nibs that write a finer line than this fine.

But none of 'em do it as smooth.

The way I look at it, take your pick. You can't go wrong with either one. And, if you're going to get both sometime in the future, then pick up one of 'em right now and see what you think. Provided that your fingers don't freak out with the VP's clip placement, it'll be a keeper.

Oh, and one more thing. As Ron can attest, you'll most likely end up with a 51, too. You'll love that one as much as he and I both do. I've got a three-pen case, and without fail, the VP and the 51 are ALWAYS in there.

To loop it back around, though...today, it was the 51, the VP, and the 2000.

I don't have a VP yet (I'm expecting one in the mail next week ), so I can't yet comment on the pen from experience, but the reason I've ordered one is convenience. The clicker-style ballpoint has that much going for it. You can use it anywhere and not worry about losing parts, you can use it one-handed, and it's ready to write in half a second.

And then there's the perversity of combining a lovely fountain pen with the design of an el-cheap-o Bic clicker. That appeals to me. Yes, I know, I'm a bad person.

I own both and they are both great pen. I'll be honest, just flip a coin, buy a pen. Get a big jar, throw your spare change in it and soon you will be able to buy the other pen!

Samovar

VP:

Cool design, looks unique and modern.
Convenient, capless.
Excellent nibs, very smooth. Easy to change nibs, can get ground nibs from Richard Binder at affordable prices.


Lamy 2000:

Conservative design, but still cool.
Very reliable construction.
Excellent nib as well.
Piston filler, well made.

I don't have a Lamy 2000, but I have a couple of comments about the VP:

1. Although I know that many do not like the clip placement, for my hand it is absolutely perfect. I have the old style VP with the faceted barrel, and when I'm writing my index finger rests against the side of the clip and makes for a very comfortable writing experience.

2. I love that one can change out the nib units, which are not expensive. I have a fine point, a medium point, and a stub italic from Richard Binder, and can change the nib to suit my mood or task. Though, actually, Richard's stub italic gets used the most.

I'll echo what others have said here. I like my VP because:

1. 1-click retractable nib. When I'm taking occasional notes on something, it's very convenient and keeps the nib from drying out.

2. Very smooth, inexpensive, replaceable 14K nibs. I don't have any customized VP nibs, yet, but probably will one day soon.

3. Solidly built, a real workhorse.

has to do with the ease of use while being able to keep style of writing I like. i tend to scribble notes all day and find some of pens are to cumberson to keep taking the cap on and off. yet, i love using a fountain pen. VP is a compromise, but better.

I will echo a number of the positive comments made so far...all of them, in fact, especially regarding the older style pens.

I would add the following:

• The ink capacity of the cartridges is huge, by comparison to an International short...it is in the realm of an original Sheaffer Skrip cartridge. This translates to long writing time between refills. The converter is not so big, but respectable. (I am syringe cart filler, so there is no disadvantage for me for using a cart filler over a piston filler, etc.)
• There is a "below the radar" sense to the pen, especially the old style Matte Black finish. It looks, as much as can be said, like a high end ball point. In a meeting or interview or anywhere where two or more are gathered AND you do not want to make a spectacle of writing something down, the VP is the way to go.
• It is one of the least expensive gold-nibbed pens available. The VP can be had for under $100 with some sharp shopping and slightly over that with some judicious looking around. And the nibs are really nice ones, laying down a decent line. I have put a number of different inks down them...Skrip, Parker, PR, Noodler, Waterman...never had a burp or burble..

In summary...just a solid pen, unpretentious, that is reliable and does what it is supposed to do...now that I think about it, I can see why it is mentioned in the same breath with the legendary Parker 51...

Bill

I think part of this issue stems from the way we understand fp users-
I have both and prefer the Lamy 2000 when I am in a fp "situation"- a time when I have time to withdraw, uncap, think and then write- followed by a period of revision time- with the VP, it is a bp or rb moment- an idea that must go down with lilttle need for revision- in other words, Lamy moments are moments of thought and reflection with the luxuary of revision; vp moments are those when getting ahead of the curve is more important than what winds up ahead of the curve.

I have a Lamy Safari Fine point at the moment. How does the 2000 fine compare to the Safari fine?

As a fan of both the VP and the Lamy 2000, I thought I'd chip in with a few comments.

For situations where you need to quickly access the pen repeatedly, and then set it down again to go on with your assessment or whatever you are doing, both the Lamy and the VP are good - the Lamy because its click-fitting cap works so well (IMHO).
But the VP just takes one hand!

Note that a lot of the criticisms of the VP are met by the Decimo. I have competely switched over to this from my VP. Why?
1. It is lighter, a lot lighter. This makes it an easier pen to use for prolonged periods.
2. The light weight suits the nibs better IMHO - at least if you have a Mottishaw stub!
3. It is slimmer - this has 2 effects: easier to hold, the VP was indeed a bit of a blimp, and it means the clip protudes less.
4. As well as the whole pen being more slender, the clip is shaped to run closer to the body, making the "clip in the way" problem much less. (It never bothered me much anyway - it helps locate the nib if you are using something a bit sensitive top position).

You do need to learn to reverse the pen when removing it from the pocket.

The worst one is this You set the pen down with the nib out for a moment, then absent-mindedly pick up the pen, forget that the nib is already out, simultaneously forget that the clip is on the wrong end, press thumb down where button should be, nib then stabs thumb as far in as it will go. Believe it or not I've done this more than once.

I am also leaning toward a Lamy 2000 very soon, in XF. I haven't tried a vanishing point but hear a lot about the clip being in an uncomfortable place.

I'm another who owns both: everyone's pointed out the differences already, so I second the change-jar idea--get both!

I admit I reach for the slimmer, lighter, and lower-profile clipped (Pilot VP) Décimo over the Raden, though, so there's another point to think about before you plump down for a VP (the main point being the clip placement and personal grip).

Could I ask about why you were thinking about getting a Lamy 2000 (nib smoothness, piston capacity, low profile looks...?)? Then the suggestions could be more tailored to address what you were wondering about.

edited to add:

I think that nib smoothness is the thing that I'm most interested in. The only FP I have right now is a Lamy Safari and I enjoy it a lot except for some problems with skipping and not starting to write right away when it touches paper.

The Safari was meant to be a way to dip a toe in the water. Now that I've found that I like using a fountain pen. I'd like to get a nice one. I'm most interested in feel and writing with it. I don't mind if nobody ever notices it or even that it's a fountain pen. The Lamy 2000 seems like the best value. It writes very well for not that much money. Those are my priorities. Thanks for asking.

Great reasons, and I think the Lamy 2k matches up with what you're looking for, or will once you get the thing fixed so it writes as it should.