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Lamy Studio Review - a very classy pen with a smoooth nib.


biffybeans

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Full review with links & photos here

 

Like the way your Lamy Safari writes, but want a sleeker, sexier looking pen for not much more money?

 

Then take a look at the Studio.

 

I want to start by saying that this is my 7th Lamy fountain pen, I currently own 6. 4 Lamy Safari's, an AL-Star, and now the Studio.

 

The Safari was my first fountain pen, and it's difficult for me not to compare all subsequent pens against it- and I don't just own Lamy's. I have two Pelikan M200's and two Sailor's (Sapporo and a full sized 1911 ) that I love just as much as the Lamy's.

 

I did at one time own a Lamy 2000 that I purchased used, but I ended up selling it because I couldn't get used to it not having some kind of grip for me to grasp the pen. I was concerned that the Studio might be problematic for me in that department, especially with the chrome front section, but I'll get to that in a minute.

 

The nib on this pen is un-be-liev-abley smooth, and the strange thing is that it's the same nib as the Safari. It's actually smoother than all of my EF & F Safari's, which are all pretty darn smooth in their own right. I can't really put my finger on why this Studio is writing so much smoother than the Safari's, except maybe for the fact that it's it's got more weight behind it.

 

Look at The Writing Desk on the Lamy exchangeable nibs:

 

"Genuine steel nibs that are direct replacements for the Accent (95 and 97), Studio (65 and 67), cp1, alu, linea, ST, Joy, Al-Star, Safari, Vista, Smile, abc and other models that are fitted with a standard Lamy steel nib...."

 

There is no doubt in my mind that this combination blue and silver pen is striking both in it's colors and design.

 

When you post the pen, it has a stopper built into the cap to keep the cap from marring the body of the pen. Nice touch.

 

The blue feels more like powder coated metal then the painted aluminum AL-Stars.

 

Compared to every pen I've ever used, this is a fairly heavy pen. It's balanced quite nicely, whether cap on or off. In my experience with this pen, I'm finding that when I write on a flat surface, I'm gripping the pen tighter than is probably necessary - or it might be due to the weight of the pen and the lack of a distinctive grip - it is balanced quite well, but it just might be heavier than I'm used to. I actually get an indentation in the side of my middle finger when I use this pen on a flat surface. I do NOT have this problem if I am sitting in a chair with the book propped at an angle on my knee. Perhaps the weight counterbalances to a place that's more comfortable to me- and I do spend a lot of time writing in this position.

 

As for the chrome grip, if my hands are cold & dry, it can get a little slippery. Otherwise, I don't have a problem with it.

 

Standard Lamy cartridges work in the Studio, and it can also use a Z26 converter, which is supplied when purchasing the pen new.

 

Close up of Z26 converter.

 

From the Writing Desk Website: "Finished in soft-touch black (model 67) or brushed stainless steel (model 65) (both with stainless steel nib). All models have a cartridge or converter filling system (converter supplied). This Lamy fountain pen is available with a wide range of nib sizes from EF to B plus oblique (OM and OB), LH (left-handed) and 1.1/1.5/1.9mm italic."

 

There is also a Palladium version, which includes (at a higher price) a two-toned 14K gold nib with rhodium plating.

 

$70 seems to be about the going rate for a Blue Lamy Studio. (The prices vary per pen color)

 

In the US, you can buy the Studio online from Pear Tree Pens or in the UK from The Writing Desk

 

Lamy Studio Handwritten Pen Test in Cartesio Journal with Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink.

 

Lamy Studio Handwritten Pen Test in a Moleskine Journal with Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink.

 

So do I like it? You bet! The weight will take a little getting used to, but for a metal pen, it's wonderful.

Edited by biffybeans

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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What a great review of the Studio! It looks sharp and I thoroughly enjoy the Lamys in my collection but your comment that it is "heavy" saved me from buying a pen that isn't likely to work out well. Thanks, Stephanie.

A certified Inkophile

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Great review, Stephanie! I just picked up an inexpensive Pelikan Pura, but I think I am now putting the Studio on my Christmas list!

 

Randy

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What nib do you prefer on your lamy Studio? Fine or medium. I am a medium man myself, but fine might be the ticket for those smaller moleskine journals. You write well...jealous and I'm impressed! Keep up the good work; it is much appreciated by the rest of us pen nuts!

 

Cheers!!

Justin

 

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Your welcome Margana. When you buy things from the web like I do, (no local access to a pen shop) it's hard to know how something is going to feel in the hand. I was wondering if I would think it was heavy had I started with a metal fountain pen rather than a plastic one.

 

 

What a great review of the Studio! It looks sharp and I thoroughly enjoy the Lamys in my collection but your comment that it is "heavy" saved me from buying a pen that isn't likely to work out well. Thanks, Stephanie.

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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Cool Beans Randy! And the thing about the Studio is that it's not really a super expensive pen. (Anything $100 or up is expensive to me.)

 

Great review, Stephanie! I just picked up an inexpensive Pelikan Pura, but I think I am now putting the Studio on my Christmas list!

 

Randy

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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I only have one Studio, and it's an EF. If you are asking what nib I prefer on the Safari, I'd have to say EF or F. (Though I have a F that writes finer than my other two EF's) I started with a medium, and it's suuuuuper smooth, but it's a really wide writer.

 

Thank you for the comment on my writing. I read somewhere a long time ago, if you want to be a writer, then you need to write as much as possible. So other than my day job of writing training manuals, the biography I'm helping to co-author, my own thoughts & memoirs, I do these reviews because not only do I enjoy writing, but I am truly passionate about finding the right tools that make the process easier. :D It also makes me very happy that people find them useful.

 

What nib do you prefer on your lamy Studio? Fine or medium. I am a medium man myself, but fine might be the ticket for those smaller moleskine journals. You write well...jealous and I'm impressed! Keep up the good work; it is much appreciated by the rest of us pen nuts!

 

Cheers!!

Justin

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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Thanks for the review Stephanie. I completely agree. I have an EF Studio with palladium finish. Superb nib. The more I use it, the more I like it.

Regards,

 

Ray

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I had been doing some research on the FPN to see how other people had liked them, and I found the post where you said you were interested in getting one for yourself. Nice to know you did, and that you like it. (I still can't get over how smooth it is.)

 

Thanks for the review Stephanie. I completely agree. I have an EF Studio with palladium finish. Superb nib. The more I use it, the more I like it.

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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Stephanie, thanks for the great review.

 

I've been thinking about the Studio for a while now but have hesitated. I love my Safari and was hoping to hear that the Studio is as strong.

 

I think I have a Studio in my future!

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I think it's as strong as the Safari. Been using it for about 10 days now and am very pleased.

 

 

Stephanie, thanks for the great review.

 

I've been thinking about the Studio for a while now but have hesitated. I love my Safari and was hoping to hear that the Studio is as strong.

 

I think I have a Studio in my future!

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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If I may add a different opinion :) ...

 

I found that I really disliked my Lamy Studio with EF nib. The reason I want to state this in this review is simply for newbies (like I was) who did not realise that for those of us who like a Japanese F nib, a Lamy EF nib doesn't even come close to a Japanese F. Who would have thought eh? I didn't realise that. I already knew that a European F would be wider than a Japanese F so I thought "Hey, a European EF should come close to a Japanese F". I was quite wrong, it seems.

 

I had a Lamy Studio (stainless steel) which wrote too thick and too wet of a line. I sent it in to Pendemonium for grinding and the grinding didn't help to create a thinner line. So, I sent it in to LamyUSA and they didn't slow the ink flow and instead they replaced the nib with a "finer" EF nib. Well, it was no different when it came back. Too thick, too wet for my tastes. So, for those who prefer something like a Japanese F, don't expect the Lamy Studio EF to be that thin.

 

I do agree that the Lamy Studio is quite the classy pen. In terms of barrel design, I really admire what Lamy produces. Most unfortunately for me, the writing experience with Lamy is not acceptable.

Edited by thibaulthalpern

m( _ _ )m (– , –) \ (^_^) /

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... a Lamy EF nib doesn't even come close to a Japanese F. Who would have thought eh?

 

You might say that your Lamy EF doesn't come close to a Japanese F. My Lamy EF is finer than my Pilot F.

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... a Lamy EF nib doesn't even come close to a Japanese F. Who would have thought eh?

 

You might say that your Lamy EF doesn't come close to a Japanese F. My Lamy EF is finer than my Pilot F.

 

That's interesting. Even after sending in my Lamy Studio to Lamy USA, they didn't solve the problem at all. Curious eh?

m( _ _ )m (– , –) \ (^_^) /

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... a Lamy EF nib doesn't even come close to a Japanese F. Who would have thought eh?

 

You might say that your Lamy EF doesn't come close to a Japanese F. My Lamy EF is finer than my Pilot F.

 

That's interesting. Even after sending in my Lamy Studio to Lamy USA, they didn't solve the problem at all. Curious eh?

 

It may be accurate to say that they are inconsistent, but I don't really know. I only have one Lamy EF, and it writes(or mostly draws) exactly like I expect an EF to write. It is in a Vista, which is a very light pen. I don't know if the heavier weight of the studio would make a difference or not. I have to press down pretty hard to get a thicker line out of it.

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It may be accurate to say that they are inconsistent, but I don't really know. I only have one Lamy EF, and it writes(or mostly draws) exactly like I expect an EF to write. It is in a Vista, which is a very light pen. I don't know if the heavier weight of the studio would make a difference or not. I have to press down pretty hard to get a thicker line out of it.

 

I think they are fairly inconsistent. There are currently about 7 (I think) Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-Stars in our house, and my husband's F Al-Star has a really enviably thin line that compares favorably with my Sailor F - even finer, I think, perhaps even close to my Pilot F's. On the other hand, my EF Vista is closer to a western fine and really no thinner than my F Safari.

 

I'm not sure the heavier weight of the Studio should make a difference, should it? I don't think I would want to press down in any case.

 

Steph, great review again. I'm relieved to find that the Studio probably isn't the pen for me, despite it's good looks. I am not crazy about heavy pens, even less crazy about metal sections. My DH likes both, however - and he loves his Lamys, so this is Very Useful Information :D

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The pictures on my blog that go with the review show that the Lamy nibs run wide. This EF is really more like a F.

 

 

If I may add a different opinion :) ...

 

I found that I really disliked my Lamy Studio with EF nib. The reason I want to state this in this review is simply for newbies (like I was) who did not realise that for those of us who like a Japanese F nib, a Lamy EF nib doesn't even come close to a Japanese F. Who would have thought eh? I didn't realise that. I already knew that a European F would be wider than a Japanese F so I thought "Hey, a European EF should come close to a Japanese F". I was quite wrong, it seems.

 

I had a Lamy Studio (stainless steel) which wrote too thick and too wet of a line. I sent it in to Pendemonium for grinding and the grinding didn't help to create a thinner line. So, I sent it in to LamyUSA and they didn't slow the ink flow and instead they replaced the nib with a "finer" EF nib. Well, it was no different when it came back. Too thick, too wet for my tastes. So, for those who prefer something like a Japanese F, don't expect the Lamy Studio EF to be that thin.

 

I do agree that the Lamy Studio is quite the classy pen. In terms of barrel design, I really admire what Lamy produces. Most unfortunately for me, the writing experience with Lamy is not acceptable.

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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I agree with Lamy nibs being inconsistent, but it's pretty much always worked in my favor, so I'm not complaining. I love their stuff.

 

Your husband will probably really like this pen.....

 

 

It may be accurate to say that they are inconsistent, but I don't really know. I only have one Lamy EF, and it writes(or mostly draws) exactly like I expect an EF to write. It is in a Vista, which is a very light pen. I don't know if the heavier weight of the studio would make a difference or not. I have to press down pretty hard to get a thicker line out of it.

 

I think they are fairly inconsistent. There are currently about 7 (I think) Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-Stars in our house, and my husband's F Al-Star has a really enviably thin line that compares favorably with my Sailor F - even finer, I think, perhaps even close to my Pilot F's. On the other hand, my EF Vista is closer to a western fine and really no thinner than my F Safari.

 

I'm not sure the heavier weight of the Studio should make a difference, should it? I don't think I would want to press down in any case.

 

Steph, great review again. I'm relieved to find that the Studio probably isn't the pen for me, despite it's good looks. I am not crazy about heavy pens, even less crazy about metal sections. My DH likes both, however - and he loves his Lamys, so this is Very Useful Information :D

 

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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... a Lamy EF nib doesn't even come close to a Japanese F. Who would have thought eh?

 

You might say that your Lamy EF doesn't come close to a Japanese F. My Lamy EF is finer than my Pilot F.

My experience is just the opposite and that's from using at least a dozen Pilots with fine nibs and a half dozen Lamy Safari and Al-star EFs. The Lamys are definitely wider than the Pilot fine nibs though not by much. One consistent difference is that the Lamys have a slight squareness to them reminiscent of a stub nib. It does wonders for my penmanship. The Lamys do have good flow so that may make lines wider even if the nib isn't truly any larger.

 

When it comes to value-for-money though, the Safari and Al-star are hard to beat. I would expect that from the Studio as well.

A certified Inkophile

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