I bought a Lamy Vista (the transparent version of the Safari) at the beginning of the summer. I fell madly in love with the extra-fine nib -- it adds a bit of elegance and line variation to my small handwriting, and I loved the way it felt on paper.

However, the Vista/Safari grip made my hand sore and tired after writing a lot. This depressed me, because the nib was just so wonderful. So I asked around the FPN, and found out about the Lamy Studio.

The Studio has the same nib as the Safari, but in a completely different type of pen.

Click to view attachment

I bought this one, the black version, a month ago. And I'm utterly delighted.

I love the styling of the Studio. The clip alone keeps me fascinated for long periods of time. This is a beautiful pen for anyone who likes clean, simple, minimalist lines. The other pens in the series are equally beautiful, but the black was my favorite.

And the grip! Ohhhhh, the grip. Nice and wide and round. You'd think the chrome would be slippery, but it's not. I can -- and do -- write for hours with this pen. Between the gliding of the nib and the comfortable grip, it takes forever for my hand to get tired.

And did I mention that it's beautiful, too?

Stats: It's 5.5" long capped, 6 1/8" posted. 1/2" diameter. I paid $60 for it at swisherpens.com, and they included the converter. (No affiliation, just a happy customer.)

The pen's cap clicks into place very solidly with in capping and posting, leaving no doubt that it's securely in place. I like that.

In the past few weeks this pen has become my main writing instrument, surpassing even my beloved Pilot VP. The Studio writes more smoothly and evenly, and the pleasure I get from it is worth the loss of the one-handed click of the VP. It was worth every cent I paid for it, and I can't think of a single complaint. It really is the perfect pen for me.

So if you love your Safari nibs but want something classier and with a better grip, I highly recommend the Studio. You won't regret it.

Nice review! I have a Studio ballpoint in the brushed chrome. That was from last year, before I rekindled my love of fountain pens...but it is a very comfortable pen to hold.

I've never been unhappy with any Lamy pen. Always well designed and a pleasure to use. I love the Accent series too...

I've always liked Lamy Safari nibs, but the triangular Safari grip is not ideal for me. I've got to get myself a Studio.

Great pen. It's also one of my favorites... well, until I get my 2000 working at least!

What's wrong with your 2000? I have one of those and find it to be a very reliable pen.

Hooray, thanks for the review. I'm in love with my Safari, and was planning on buying myself a blue Studio for Christmas. Looking forward to it even more now.

Nice review. I own 2, a chrome Fine nib and a black XF. I don't have a problem with the chrome section on the black pen either. I think the Lamy fine nibs are some of the best out there and we can all agree that they put down a true fine line, without question.

greencobra - I was thinking of getting both the black and the steel then swapping the sections over so I could have sort of bling and stealth versions. Would that work or are the materials used just different enough that it would look wrong?

John

That would be SO AWESOME. Seriously!

Although I think it's a great pen, I don't feel it's very reliable at all. The forum abounds with threads concerning leaky nib sections, scratchy nibs, etc.

My 2000, in particular, is leaking from the piston area. Every time I leave it for a day or two in my cup holder, it decides to belch out half the ink it's carrying. Needless to say, it results in quite a mess. The pen is actually at Lamy USA for repairs (sent there for the second time, for the same problem). I miss the pen, though... despite its problems, it's still one of my favorite pens.

The sections change out on my pens. In fact I like the look of the black on black pen.


It's been my experience with Lamy and the Studio in particular to be very reliable. I've had mine a year as of last month and have used them without even experiencing a skip nevermind a leakage issue. We tend to forget about the hundreds of posts from the FPN members who are happy and have no issues with their Lamy products. As I write this I'm thinking about a couple of high dollar pens I bought this year that had to go back for warranty work soon after I got them. I wish they had worked as well as my $40 Lamy.

Thanks greencobra! As soon as the backlog from the postal strike we have just experienced in the UK dissipates, the deed shall be done.

John

I have been looking the the Studio for a while as a repository of a 1.1 italic nib as I wanted something that looked a little better than the Safari/Vista. I found a slightly used Accent on electronic Bay cheaper than the list price on a Safari so I picked that up instead.

I must admit that your Studio looks better though.

I must say ditto on the good review. I too have, and regularly use, my Studio. Brushed stainless steel, with F nib. A regular go-to pen, that always, always writes on the first stroke. As many good things I've heard about the 2000, I wondered why the Studio didn't receive more press.

Hi Steff, another thanks for your review.

I've been enjoying my Lamy Vista 1.1 italic for a while. Looks like a Studio may very well be in my future!

Best to you,
Alec

Speaking of Lamy Studios ... anyone know how to get replacement nib sections? LamyUSA has a wide assortment for many of their pens, but not (at last look) for the Studio. I have an XF and I'm looking for an F.

<edit>

For the s/s and India rubber version, I should add.

I believe the Al-Star, Safari and Studio share the same nibs. Just the bodies that differ, obviously.

EDIT: Except for the Palladium Studios with the gold nib.

EDIT 2: Reference: http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/lamy/lamy_nibs.php

Patrick:

I'm pretty sure you're right, but I don't have the equipment to swap nibs out; I'd be happy to pay for the new section to save myself the trouble of getting the tools and the time to learn to use them (and then screwing the job up!). It's just odd that Lamy wouldn't put the parts on their replacement part site; they have nib sections for the Persona, Safari, and Accent lines, but none for the Studio. (Or the 2000, either, though that's less surprising.)

Oh, I see! I mis-read that, I didn't notice you said 'section'. I thought you didn't need any tools to replace the nib, except, according to twd a bit of sticky-tape..

Read Patrick's post. You don't need any equipment... just some scotch tape. I've swapped out nibs myself; you'll be amazed at how easy it is. The metal nib isn't attached to the pen. It basically just slides right onto the feed. A pretty nice feature, if you ask me.

If you live in the U.S., you can order replacement nibs from www.swisherpens.com
The only problem is that they don't carry a steel EF. I wanted one, but had to settle for putting on a black EF on my Lamy Studio. Doesn't look bad, but...

Very cool. Another reason to love my Lamys.

I keep eyeing the blue version (although I want the paladium versions nib), and I keep telling myself I do not need another pen...who am I kidding?

I love the look of the studio. My first fountain pen was the 2000. I was going to get the studio but decided otherwise. Is there any difference in the way the studio writes versus the 2000? I'd like to get the studio, but if it writes the same as the 2000, I'm not so sure I'd want to purchase it.

Wayne, the Studio writes just like the Safari/Al-Star line: very stiff but with good flow, save in the XF (in my experience). Nothing like the 2000.

Based on this review, I bought Greencobra's black Studio with EF nib (and chrome section) and his stainless steel Studio with F nib (and black section). I found I preferred the softer, rubbery feel of the black material, but I much preferred the EF nib. Soooo ... using the instructions given above, I switched out the nibs and put the EF nib on the black section, then used the black section with the black barrel to create the "Stealth Studio" mentioned above!!! It's wonderful !! THanks to all -- both for the original review and the instructions on swapping nibs. I now have one PERFECT Studio, and one quite excellent one (the chrome section looks nice with the stainless barrel) -- a really great deal! HP

now THAT is one cool looking Studio!

Now all you have to do is find the same nib in black steel, and you'll be even stealthier!

You could blue the nib, as in gun metal bluing.

Oh why did you have to put that thought in my head? -- now I'll have to get a black Safari nib and put on there -- then it'll fly under any radar!!

I just received a blue Lamy Studio FP with a fine nib, and discovered just how a fine writing instrument should feel. It has a great modernist look, fine construction, balanced feel, and writes better the more it is written with. I truly love this pen, especially with purple Waterman ink... Finally, this pen is reasonably priced and was well worth the $75 spent. I expect to receive years of use from my Lamy.

I have the Blue Studio in F, and three Palladium Studios; M, F, and Roller Ball. I find the grip on the Blue to be too slippery for me. However, it is the best writing of the bunch. I like the grips on the Palladium pens much better. However, if you are used to the steel nibs on the Safari and other Studios, you will find the gold nibs on the Palladium pens nothing like them. The F writes like a M, and the M is more like a B. Could just be that the gold is more flexible and I am bearing down too hard (these were my first gold nibbed pens). All in all, I believe the Studio series to be one of the best values in "metal" pens. The styling is top notch, as is performance.

I've probably checked out the Studio 3-5 times - on 3 continents, even! - and each time chickened out with the same ol' "Nah! I don't need another pen right now." Admittedly, one of the things steering me away has been my trepidation over the chrome section. So it's reallly good to hear it's not a pain. While here at home in CA it probably wouldn't be too bad, I do work on ships - NOTHING irritates me more than my fingers slipping all over. From what I read here, also, they seem to be pretty solid writers. My parallel would thus seem to be my trusty Rotring 600. That pen is amazingly effective and reliable. I don't think it's coughed up a furball yet. But tell me: how is the cap catch holding out? That's my only real complaint with the 600: the cap just won't stay on well (pocketing out of the question!)

Scott

I was thinking about the studio for some months!

I have two Lamy 2K and several vintage 27 I really like and wanted some everyday-Lamy.
The Safari was not an option because I dislike the grip section.

Last week I have ordered the studio and now I am waiting for the pen to arrive

I'm waiting for my local pen seller, Pam at Oscar Braun, to get more EF Palladium Studios. I've been wanting to try these pens for some time.

Hoi,

the Lamy STUDIO was my first non-noname fountain pen. Bought it for 45 Euro a year ago (incl. converter), don't regret the choice I made. A very reliable, sturdy and beautiful fountain pen (at least in my eyes), my workhorse in the office. Earlier this year, I bought a Lamy LOGO as a worthy companion, stainless steel too. The brushed steel gives you a warm, nice and secure grip - no gliding at all (the Studio has a rubber coated gripsection).

Click to view attachment
Lamy Studio, stainless steel, 1.1 stub, inked with Waterman blue-black.
Lamy Logo, stainless steel, F-nib, inked with Waterman Havana brown.

White standard noname 70 g/m2 office paper, with a selfmade notetaking layout. Very little bleeding, no feathering, not smooth but nice to write on. Did I mentioned: cheapest of the cheapest? ^^


- Harold

Are there cartridges for the Studio? I have Safari cartridges and was wondering if they would work if I bought a Studio.

I was wondering the same, and I finally found it. They both use the T 10 cartridges, so we're safe.

Awesome...that may have sold it for me

My blue Lamy Studio is being shipped out tomorrow from Pendemonium (great to work with--NO affiliation). It was ground to a 1.1mm stub. I'm looking forward to seeing the cool design up close, the slighty tacky feel to it, and how smooth the nib is. My plan is to fill it w/ PR Black Magic Blue.

I just received my SS Studio.

It is a good looking pen, and I like how it feels, but, well, it IS very very dry.

I ordered a bottle of Noodler`s Black at the same time and used that for the first filling, which may not have been the best idea to make this wetter.

What inks do you use with that pen? I was thinking of using the Studio as my "dedicated black ink" pen, but am open to other suggestions...

What size Nib did you get? Maybe too fine? Are the nibs like the Safari? I thought so. I found the Safari XF to be wet enough.

I was just curious.

My Studio will hopefully arrive tomorrow. That's very hopeful thinking, but I'm anticipating.

I like a wetter line, so I order mediums in just about everything. The Safari writes very well, but very wet with the medium. I kept the medium in the Studio. I have Noodler's Black, which seems to be a bit drier than all my other Noodler's, so I'll try it in the Studio. I may make it my red ink pen, though, with Fox Red. I also ordered the Polar Black, though, to see if it works better in some of my pens. Meh, I have too many new pens and inks. I'll figure it out eventually.

Mine is a F. I use Namiki Fs and Pelikan Fs and XFs and that's wet enough for me (although it was my first try with Noodler's Black)... Usually I run Glacier Blue or Tahitian Pearl.

I'll try the pen with other Noodler's colours...

Hi.. slightly off-topic. but I will get back onto it.
The Lamy 2000 is under a bit of investigation back in Germany... it is supposed to be be getting a nib feed update for the first time since it was released.

Now, back to the Studio... another pen I have seen in pre-production stage is of the Pearl-white version. Very nice, especially with the chrome steel trimming. I don't recall if it will be a limited run item such as that of the 2007 Summer series of the Lamy Safari Gloss black and Gloss white. I also don't recall if it is being released with the gold nib (as found on the Palladium Studio) or as the standard chrome-steel.
Either way, the finish was nice, and felt better than the standard Lamy Studio 065.

I just got my Studio yesterday, and it's great, as a tool and a work of art. I don't regret the $75 I spent on it.

Like Seven Thousand (can we nickname you 7k?), I just received my Studio yesterday. Since I also received papers to play with and new ink, I decided to load up several pens in different colors to play on the various papers (I posted about all the fun in the Paraphenalia reviews). I loaded the Studio with Noodler's bulletproof Hunter Green ink. Mine does have a medium nib, as I do like a little more ink on the page. I didn't have any problems with flow or scratching on any of the papers. I didn't seem to have any feathering problems on any of the papers. It wrote very well, actually. I do make sure to shake my Noodler's inks before using them. The Studio writes much better than the Al-Star/Safari, but still with a medium line that I like so well. The only real difference I could see was it wasn't scratchy like the Al-Star/Safari nibs on more textured papers. It sounds like maybe you got a bad nib, and maybe a replacement is in order?

How tough is it to refill a Studio vs. a Pelikan 200, say?

I'm about to order...

One's a converter (Studio), other is piston fill. The converter is also uses the piston. With the converter, you'll probably have to prime the pen a little on the first use with using the converter one or two times before it will draw up the ink. At least, this is what I've experienced, and I'm using several converter pens, now. You may need to do that as well with the 200, I don't know yet as my 320 is out for wanding (never used yet), and my 200 isn't due to show up until Wednesday at the earliest. The Lamy converter does not hold as much ink as I'd like, the Pelikan has a big reservoir. The Studio is going to be a little heavier than the 200 maybe. Can't say yet. The pens are both nice, but apples and oranges, really.

Save up for another month and get both.

I decided to try the Studio in black. I also had them throw in a Hero 611 to try one out and see if they lived up to the hype.

Hopefully, by Friday I'll have it in hand. Then I just have to figure out how to use a converter

Click on the "view animations" selection from the menu on the left: Visconti - animations for using converters

I sooo love having that bookmarked!