I couldn't wait any longer to try it...so I just inserted one of the cartridges that arived with it and write a few lines. Initial impression is extremely positive. It feels almost brush like, with absolutely no effort required to lay down a broad wet line. And the line is definitely broad...need to be careful not to fill the loops of "o", "a" and "e" amongst others. The pen forces you to relax your hand and just let the pen glide and flow across the page, resulting in larger but very expressive writing. With such smoothness, it will be important to keep a little control in order to preserve legibility of my handwriting. I can't wait to use it more often. Absolutely useless of writing little notes in margins.

There aren't a lot of positive things said about the zoom nib, but if you like broads, you should be pretty impressed with the zoom.

cheers,
Milo

How about a writing sample?

perhaps it's a zoom nib that I need for my 1911M. I was disappointed with the M nib, which I find too hard and too narrow for me. I love to write with paintbrushes!!

When I purchased my Sailor Professional Gear I spent a lot of time debating which nib to go with it before opting for the zoom nib. It took some getting used to initially but eventually managed to work out which was the best angle to hold the pen for the line I want. At it's broadest it's pretty wide for my liking! With practice have managed to get a consistent line now. It is such a smooth nib though. Unfortunately have relegated it from my rotation of daily writers as I have to concentrate too hard to keep a consistent line!
Minimaupassant, if you like a really broad nib then the zoom may suit you, changing the angle you hold it at very slightly will reduce the width until you find the width that suits. I think it is a nib more suited to slow, formal writing rather than quick note taking

Then I think a Concord nib or even better a Cross Concord Emperor would suit you better. They really reproduce the stroke of a paintbrush, but the writing is very huge! I have posted a review on the board of my CCE nib if I'm not mistaken.

Take care with the zoom nib. My advice would be you try it before you buy it, or at least see writing samples. I have a Sapporo with a Zoom nib that I bought and who has remained in its box after less than a week of use... I think I'll sell it... maybe he'll find a new home where he won't only sleep in its box!

Cya around,
Shin.

Agree with that, try before you buy. Took on the zoom nib as a result of excellent reviews on here, and it intrigued me although I enjoy using it, like Shin's it spends more time in it's box than out! Am thinking of replacing it with an M nib.
Leonie, if you want to try the zoom nib in my saporro, PM me and will post it to you to try for a week, postage to Manchester will be pennies

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

From top to bottom:
Writing sample from the 1911M zoom
Writing sample from the Reform 1745
Writing sample and zoom nib
Writing sample and zoom nib

The text is from the CD cover of my Japenese import of Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Leonie - is this the kind of effect you were looking for? I could even lend this nib out to you if you like.

Note, both writing samples were done a normal writing speed for me, the speed at which I might make notes while in the office, rather than the more careful attitude taken when writing a letter for example. I also tend to hold my pens close to the threads, allowing me to feel less restricted.
Oh, and the paper was my spiral bound A4 size black n' red.

cheers,
Milo

Looks like my kind of nib! Can't bear those scrotty little fine nibs....

A lot of people seem to hate the Zoom nib. I have a 1911 classic with a Zoom nib which I simply enjoy writing with. It is true that in the normal writing angle, the Zoom writes rather broad and unbelievably smooth. But one can change the width by varying the angle and, when inverted, it can write a really thin line. I use the broad line for things like writing titles and headings and addressing envelopes while I use the inverted Zoom nib for note taking without any problems. The width of the line also depends on the ink used. Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black seems to produce much thinner lines than Parker Quink (with Solv-X). Finally, I use the nib for drawing and then the real usefulness of the this nib becomes readily apparent. This nib even works on rough handmade paper producing very interesting effects. The nib is really ideal if you want to draw or sketch with a fountain pen. I am sure more expensive nibs from Sailor like the Cross or the Eagle may be better for this job - but alas they are very much beyond my budget

Sometimes I wonder, why cant all nibs be Zoom nibs? Then we wont need so many nib widths to worry about !!

I just got a Sailor Professional Gear with a zoom nib. While I'm still getting the hang of it, I really like it so far. I seem to have a fondness for broad nibs even though my handwriting would probably be happier with medium and fine nibs.

Another possibility, if you are really that adventurous, is to take a pair of pliers and carefully bend the tip of the nib to the desired angle. The 21K nibs are soft and thick so if you are careful you will not harm the nib. In this way you can adjust the width to your preferred writing angle ! Actually, in that case you might end up having a thick line when inverted and a fine line in the normal angle - like a concord nib - (which by the way is more expensive than the Zoom.....) . But will anyone have the heart to do this to a > $100 pen?

I have looked at the zoon nib (I eventually decided that it was not for me), but I have to say I would never gather the courage to do that to any of my nibs, let alone a specialty sailor nib.

-Nkk

The Zoom nib = Zen nib - is this not all about "transformation" ? Can lead to fountain pen satori for all you know....

I agree. I'd send it to Binder for anything like that!

I had a Zoom nib, but it was just too broad for me, even if held nearly vertically, and the width variation one could produce in a single stroke by varying the pen angle was just not enough to mimic brush strokes.

It's taken a few days, but I have my scanner up and running again...

Here are a few lines from my 1911 Classic with Zoom nib --



As you can see, as I moved the pen from vertical towards the horizontal, the line got wider and my writing got larger.

Edited to re-post the scan.

Is it just me who can't see the scan? I would love to see how you get on with your zoom.
I've lately been in two minds about mine since I really have to write a lot bigger to get the best out of the zoom nib. However, I'm going to try another colour instead of black to see if the result can convince me the Zoom nib is a keeper.

One question for Zoom nib owners: how does it compare to writing with a stub or music? Aren't these normally a lot wider than the zoom line?

I re-posted the scan in the original message. Is that better?

It works for me

When I was looking into the Sailor specialty nibs, they all looked way too broad for me, apart from the saibi togi nib. Your scan confirms my original decision: for someone with my writing, the zoom would be too broad for me to use effectively. However, my Pro Gear with the saibi togi nib has rapidly become a favourite pen. It's not for everyone, either, but it works for me.

I would recommend that people looking at getting one of the specialty nibs take due consideration of the fact that they are, in fact, specialised! If your needs align with that specialty, they are brilliant nibs, but otherwise... Well, you're just not going to be able make them fit your needs.

Thanks for adding the scan....this is the effect I achieve too, but as said before by others it seems difficult to vary line width/pen angle mid-stroke while writing. Which ink are you using by the way? Seem's you're achieving a slightly finer line than I am...I am currently using one of the Sailor cartridges than came with the pen. I'm thinking Noodlers Air Corp or one of the PR Ebony inks for my Zoom nib...hopefully convincing me I need this broad nib compared to my other fine nibs.

For brushstroke effects, try either the Sailor Fude or Concord nib, or the Binder Condor nib. The Zoom is not really able to do this very well. I think the only reason to get a Zoom is to have a really smooth broad nib. In my experience, it's akin to the Naginata togi M.