580 Al Or Mini

[dragos.mocanu]

Hello beautiful people,

 

I've been looking to get a TWSBI pen for a long time, but one problem has always kept me away: which model I should buy! I have small-medium hands and my biggest pen is Lamy 2000 (which is my favorite pen model ever!); my other daily users include a couple of P"51"s and a vintage Duofold Jr., which although short, fits my hand neatly even unposted (I NEVER post my pens). The Vac 700 is clearly out of question (it's really way too bulky), but I'm wondering if the 580 is also too big for me. I've tried comparing the Lamy 2000 with the 580 (pictures on the Internet), and the 580 AL somehow looks a lot bigger (perhaps because of the 2000's cigar shape).

 

On the other hand, the Mini seems to be of similar size with the Duofold Jr. (which I like), capped or uncapped. So there's my dilemma, it would seem that both may fit the bill, but I'm looking to buy just one (directly from Mr. Pendleton Brown, with a nice B CI nib ).

 

Cheers!

[ink-syringe]

If you don't have any problem with the size & weight of the Lamy 2k you will be fine with the Diamond 580 AL. About the same weight and the body of the pen is a tad shorter. Lamy 2k is pretty stout too in the middle. The pen is longer that the Lamy 2k with the nib but obviously that is because the Twsbi has the big honking nib and the Lamy has the semi-imbedded nib.

 

If you are okay with the 2k you should be fine with the full size pen and that's what I would do. I'd be more worried about the mini being too small.

[Amberjack]

The mini needs to be posted for me to have enough to hold on to. I don't have large hands but they aren't small either.

With the cap posted (it actually screws on to post, neat) it's the perfect size. It's also handy to tuck into a shirt pocket or virtually anywhere because of its small size when closed.

 

That said, the mini is one of the pens I always have with me. Never a hard starter, holds a lot of ink, smooth as silk nib.

If I lost it, I'd buy another in an instant.

 

Jack

[Ceilidh]

Like Amberjack, I love the mini, but I also find it needs to be posted. Since you never post, perhaps the 580 is the better choice.

[Rebecca-vt]

I have small hands (ladies xs glove size), and both pens. The mini is smaller when capped, but is too small to use unless posted. The 580 can't be posted, so when writing the two pens are very close to the same size and weight.

 

I really like both pens, but agree that if you prefer not to post your pens, you will probably prefer the 580.

[amberleadavis]

I prefer the full size pens, but I don't cap.

[I like mango cheesecake]

I've posted the 580 before and it's like holding a wand or something. It's huge. The mini is perfect posted.