Best Pen For Fast Writting...

[theblackpen]

Hello everybody!

I am a medical student and where i study,fast note taking is important.I need an instrument that writes very smooth.It must have an extra fine nib or a fine nib...I write with very small charecters...microscopic almost

In all the topics i've read the "battle" is between Lamy 200 and Namiki.

Could you help me please

P.S: I like the ones with a classic design like the Pelikan 200.I have one . Then why do I need another fountain pen?

Because I love them!

I love ALL the black fountainpens!!!!!!!!!!! ...

with an EF nib

or a F one...

OK.Enough with this fooling around

Thank you for your time and have a nice day!

 

[Shangas]

If I might bring your attention to the Campo Marzio Design line of pens. I have one of my own, and I can tell you this much:

 

1. I too, write very fast (not really as a RULE, but when I do, I write REALLY fast).

2. My Campo Marzio has put up VERY well with the battering it's recieved in my hands.

3. The nibs are fine. They'll definately produce thin lines if your writing is small.

4. Smoothness may be a problem. This is just through my personal experience, but the nib does tend to roughen up a bit after a few years of constant (daily) use. You might want to keep an eye on that.

 

That said, it is a good, strong, durable pen which I would recommend to a person like you, with the criteria you described.

 

PS - I paid less than 100 Euros for it. I'm not sure what that is in US/Aust. dollars. If someone could convert it, it would be much appreciated.

[meanwhile]

If you really need an XF or F, forget the Lamy. It's the worst pen possible. The nibs are smooth because they're huge - a Lamy F is at least an M.

 

Any decent pen can cope with fast writing. But a modern pen with a good XF nib will almost certainly be Japanese. Search the forum for the usual XF/F threads.

[meanwhile]

If you really need an XF or F, forget an out of the box Lamy. It's the worst pen possible. The nibs are smooth because they're huge. Nib grading varies from maker to maker and pen to pen, but in the 2K's case it is quite egregious.

 

Any decent pen can cope with fast writing. But a modern pen with a good XF nib will almost certainly be Japanese. Search the forum for the usual XF/F threads. A Pilot/Namiki 78G for $40 would probably be an excellent choice (the Pilot/Namiki F is actually an XF). So would the Chinese Parker 51 clone, the Hero 100. In vintage, a Triumph nib Sheaffer Snorkel or a real Parker 51 could do the job excellently for much, much less than $100.

 

Or you could buy the 2K and pay an extra $50 to have it turned into a true F or XF by a nibmeister. I'd recommend Deb Kinney as being (in my limited experience) excellent and having a much shorter waiting list than than the two usual suspects. But do try the pen in your hand before paying for it to be modified. Some people can't tolerate it because of the cap retaining pins sticking in their fingers while they write: a lot will depend on your grip.

 

 

[Mike S.]

In my experience, the ability of a pen to keep up with fast strokes is a functon of inkflow, which varies from not only from make to make but from pen to pen. The challenge is to find a level of inkflow that is fast enough to keep up with the speed by not so gushingly wet that it leaves a pool of ink on the page.

 

If I were you, I would get a Sailor Sapporo with a fine nib from John Mottishaw and tell him that you want the tipping polished so that it's extra-smooth and the inkflow adjusted so that it will keep up with your very fast, small-sized handwriting. I think you'll find a Sailor nib to be very fine and of extremely high quality, and, if properly set up and tuned by a master like Mottishaw, as smooth as a fine nib can be. You can check out the Sapporo on his website, www.nibs.com. If you like a larger pen (the Sapporo is relatively small, especially if you don't post the cap), you can get a Professional Gear or 1911 for about $100 more.

 

I think the Sapporo is a high value-for-money pen (at $120, it's relatively inexpensive, though not cheap).

[psfred]

My first choice would be a Parker "51" if you can find one with a fine or XF nib. Second would be to go to isellpens.com and get one (or six) of the "51" copies made by Hero -- 100, 616, 329, there are others too. All feature very good ink flow (so you can write quickly), very smooth nibs (at least usually, which is why you might want to buy six or so of the Heros -- they run from $10 to $28, you'd get at least one good one) and large ink capacity. All the Chinese pens have fine to very fine nibs -- I love mine, it's one of the smoothest pens I have.

 

For $200 you can buy a drawer full. Not all have gold nibs, but the stainless seems to be working well on my 616s.

 

Third would be a Parker 45 with an XF nib (you can buy new ones from Parker, I think). There is an advantage to the 45, in that you can use cartridges with it, so running out of ink is somewhat less of a problem.

 

I suspect you will be severely limited in pen choice with modern pens (Japanese only unless you want to try mainland Chinese) because fine nibs are out of style in the rest of the world.

 

Sheaffer Snorkels and Touchdown pens are a possibility too, but the Snork can be somewhat lower ink capacity. You want one with a Gregg (shorthand) nib, and no, you cannot have mine!

 

Peter

[MYU]

It sounds to me like you also need the pen "ready to go" without hesitation. In this case, the Pilot VP is a sure winner. No cap to hassle with! Single handed operation. Plus the fine nib writes very nicely. If you take copious notes, however, you would want to use a cartridge instead of a converter (as it holds a little more ink).

 

Oh, and I might add that you can get the Namiki Stealth VP--completely matte black (except for the nib). No chrome or silver anywhere. Talk about a Shagri-La of blackness!

Edited April 21, 2007 by MYU

[Srehman]

As an on-the-go physician, the mainstay of my daily note-writing is my Namiki VP. Although mine has a medium nib, it is a great writer and oh-so-practical.

[Nihontochicken]

What psfred said!

 

Really, if you want a quick, off-the-shelf purchase, then I guess a Sailor or Namiki is the ticket (I don't know, don't own either myself). Buying a bunch of Heros to find a good one is kind of a crapshoot. Though I love my older 616, the medium nib flows like a river and is a bit scratchy, so wouldn't likely work well for you. Though I personally prefer the 616's design, for you I'd have to recommend the Hero top end 51 clone, the Hero 100. The nib on mine was very smooth (before I inadvertently kayoed it). But if you have the time to invest, I'd recommend getting a nice Parker 51 Aerometric, and have the nib ground and adjusted by one of the nibmeisters mentioned on this site. This should run in the $150 range or so, somewhat more or less depending on whether you buy the pen at retail, or bottom feed on Fleabay like I do. Good fortune in your search!

[Dan Carmell]

While you have gotten good advice above, I would disagree with the choice of a VP for your use because it uses a converter or cartridge with a relatively small ink supply. Unless you fill it every morning, you may find yourself at the library or in class with a pen and no ink.

 

I would suggest that you get a Pelikan 200 or 400 with a EF nib. I note that Richard Binder custom tweaks his Pelikan EF and charges for that service, as he doesn't like the stock Pelikan EF nib. I suspect you will like the results of his tweaking and in the case of the 200, even with the nib service, it is well below your price limit.

 

The 200 comes in black, with a nice ink window to gauge your ink level--and it hold a lot of ink. Good size, well made, and black--what's not to love!

 

Good luck with your selection!

 

Dan

[RLTodd]

If it is realy, realy, realy important I always put two Parker Jotter Ball Point pens in my pocket. (and a mechanical pencil, but that is more my compulsive nature than necessary) They have never let me down.

[Margana]

Pels do hold a lot of ink and even off the shelf can have great flow. With a $200 budget you could purchase two M200s for double the ink volume. There is also the advantage of carrying two colors of ink if you have a use for that. If the nibs or the flow are not to your liking, Chartpak has great customer support and will adjust them for you. Chartpak turn around is a few weeks which may be faster than any of the nibmeisters although if you purchase the pen from the nibmeister, the waiting time might be similar to Chartpak.

 

That said, I have a lot of Pels and Pilots though no VP yet. From what I've heard Sailor pens generally have better ink flow than Pilots do. Japanese pen manufacturers have specialized in fine and extra fine nibs for a long time and IMO are the most consistent at nib size. I have yet to buy a Pilot that has consistent flow though not a common complaint around here.

 

The only stock-nibbed Pel I own (most of mine are custom) that compares to my Pilots is one that Abi at Chartpak adjusted. Copious flow to be sure but smooth as butter. Consequently the fine nib writes more like a fine-medium but it is a joy to use.

 

With all the pens I have to choose from, when I walk out the door there are always a couple of Pels in my bag and on occasion a Pilot. Knowing I have enough ink to get through the day in a very reliable pen trumps all other criteria for me.

 

I hope we haven't confused things with too much data or too many opinions. But ask for advice around here and you are sure to find it.

[BillTheEditor]

Hero 237-1 "Accountant" with XXF nib. $10. See it and a lot of user comments at http://www.hisnibs.com/'237-1'.htm.

 

[PaulLeMay]

My opinion on the best pen I ever used for FAST extra fine writing was a Sheaffer Snorkel with a Palladium nib. They are super smooth, and fairly firm so don't ever catch on the paper. Just one man's opinion.

[theblackpen]

If I might bring your attention to the Campo Marzio Design line of pens. I have one of my own, and I can tell you this much:

 

1. I too, write very fast (not really as a RULE, but when I do, I write REALLY fast).

2. My Campo Marzio has put up VERY well with the battering it's recieved in my hands.

3. The nibs are fine. They'll definately produce thin lines if your writing is small.

4. Smoothness may be a problem. This is just through my personal experience, but the nib does tend to roughen up a bit after a few years of constant (daily) use. You might want to keep an eye on that.

 

That said, it is a good, strong, durable pen which I would recommend to a person like you, with the criteria you described.

 

PS - I paid less than 100 Euros for it. I'm not sure what that is in US/Aust. dollars. If someone could convert it, it would be much appreciated.

 

100 Euros=136 US dollars= 163 Australian dollars

Thank you for your answers

[Dan Carmell]

If it is realy, realy, realy important I always put two Parker Jotter Ball Point pens in my pocket. (and a mechanical pencil, but that is more my compulsive nature than necessary) They have never let me down.

 

Maybe I'm just primitive when it comes to ballpoints, but there's nothing I like better than a Jotter, especially the stainless steel ones!

 

Dan

[Titivillus]

Hello everybody!

I am a medical student and where i study,fast note taking is important.I need an instrument that writes very smooth.It must have an extra fine nib or a fine nib...I write with very small charecters...microscopic almost

In all the topics i've read the "battle" is between Lamy 200 and Namiki.

Could you help me please

P.S: I like the ones with a classic design like the Pelikan 200.I have one . Then why do I need another fountain pen?

Because I love them!

I love ALL the black fountainpens!!!!!!!!!!! ...

with an EF nib

or a F one...

OK.Enough with this fooling around

Thank you for your time and have a nice day!

 

You probably would do better with a 0.5 - 0.3mm pencil than a FP.

 

Kurt

 

[georges zaslavsky]

One of the best deals I had at mora stylos (my favorite penshop) was a french vacumatic from 1950 I baught at 180€. It has a fine nib, great ink capacity and you can write fast with it.

[Mudge]

Well, as another science student, my vote goes with the Namiki/Pilot VP. Mine does very well in what I presume to be a similar situation to yours, although my writing is quite large. Mine has an M nib which I would call fine. I tend to go for bigger italic or cursives for my other pens, but they are a bit clumsy when drawings are needed, so the smaller nib is a good choice for me.

 

Someone else mentioned ink capacity, but in your/our line of work, I think we have to more or less accept a daily filling routine as a matter of course for just about any pen other than an eyedropper. If you go for an EF nib, I assume your ink will go further, though...

 

In any case, I find the one-handed operation very useful in lab situations, and since I hate posting a cap, it is a big advantage not to have to worry about holding on to it or finding a safe space for it.

 

Hope this helps...

 

 

[Shangas]

If I might bring your attention to the Campo Marzio Design line of pens. I have one of my own, and I can tell you this much:

 

1. I too, write very fast (not really as a RULE, but when I do, I write REALLY fast).

2. My Campo Marzio has put up VERY well with the battering it's recieved in my hands.

3. The nibs are fine. They'll definately produce thin lines if your writing is small.

4. Smoothness may be a problem. This is just through my personal experience, but the nib does tend to roughen up a bit after a few years of constant (daily) use. You might want to keep an eye on that.

 

That said, it is a good, strong, durable pen which I would recommend to a person like you, with the criteria you described.

 

PS - I paid less than 100 Euros for it. I'm not sure what that is in US/Aust. dollars. If someone could convert it, it would be much appreciated.

 

100 Euros=136 US dollars= 163 Australian dollars

Thank you for your answers

 

Thanks!!

 

So yeah, I paid less than 100 bucks for my Campo Marzio...definately a good buy.

Edited April 22, 2007 by Shangas