Opus 88 Koloro-Anyone Tried One Yet?

[Doug C]

As far as I know, Pen Chalet is the only seller of this pen, but I have seen it for sale in non us locations.

Does anyone have one of these? If so, I'd like to know your thoughts. I really like the idea of combining the ebonite and acrylic materials in the body of the pen.

 

 

[Gasquolet]

Fontoplumo in The Netherlands does them too, had an email through from Frank the other day. I'm very tempted but I hear there's another one on the way with a #6 nib but without the ebonite which may offer more 'tuning' options.

 

From the pictures I think for me it's a matter of when, not if...

[sketchstack]

I have one and made a short video: https://youtu.be/kgmZ2SmtbYQ

 

I'd never had a valve-controlled eyedropper so I wanted to check it out. Plus it's an interesting look overall. It's perhaps a "mid-sized" pen which I appreciate as I prefer larger rather than smaller pens. The build quality is good.

 

The biggest downside is I don't like #5 nibs. If they release a #6-equipped model I'll be very interested. That said there are plenty of #5 nibs to try out which is nice (Nemosine, Jowo, Knox)

 

Overall I like the pen. I got it from Pen Chalet.

[Doug C]

I have one and made a short video: https://youtu.be/kgmZ2SmtbYQ

 

I'd never had a valve-controlled eyedropper so I wanted to check it out. Plus it's an interesting look overall. It's perhaps a "mid-sized" pen which I appreciate as I prefer larger rather than smaller pens. The build quality is good.

 

The biggest downside is I don't like #5 nibs. If they release a #6-equipped model I'll be very interested. That said there are plenty of #5 nibs to try out which is nice (Nemosine, Jowo, Knox)

 

Overall I like the pen. I got it from Pen Chalet.

Thanks Sketchstack.

 

I may get one. Great video too.

[PenChalet]

 

The biggest downside is I don't like #5 nibs. If they release a #6-equipped model I'll be very interested. That said there are plenty of #5 nibs to try out which is nice (Nemosine, Jowo, Knox)

 

Overall I like the pen. I got it from Pen Chalet.

The Demonstrator Opus 88 that is coming out is slightly bigger and comes with a #6 nib. Loved the video, by-the-way!

[sketchstack]

The Demonstrator Opus 88 that is coming out is slightly bigger and comes with a #6 nib. Loved the video, by-the-way!

 

Thanks. And I'll keep my eyes peeled for that demonstrator. Any ETA?

[PatP]

I just received the Opus 88 clear demonstrator. Beautiful pen. It has a smooth #6 nib. Bought it on Pen Chalet and they only had a medium or Broad nib selection. a big pen...little bigger than I am use to but a beautiful pen. I am very impressed for the price. I do not know how to embed photos into my posts.

[sketchstack]

I just received the Opus 88 clear demonstrator. Beautiful pen. It has a smooth #6 nib. Bought it on Pen Chalet and they only had a medium or Broad nib selection. a big pen...little bigger than I am use to but a beautiful pen. I am very impressed for the price. I do not know how to embed photos into my posts.

 

Does the pen post well? The Pen Chalet description says it doesn't post, yet the official photo shows the pen posted.

 

Thanks for any insight. I'm interested in this pen but I greatly prefer pens that post well.

[Inksomnia]

I really fell in love how Opus 88 Demonstrator looks, black trimings on demonstrator looks great. But I don't have any eyedrop-fillers and I'm bit worried how the shut-off valve works. I have TWSBI Vac, so unscrewing something before writing isn't problem. Also, I prefer EF nibs, so I have to buy nib separately, and in black.

 

I'm hopping that there would be some review out soon.

[Ted A]

There’s a review in the pen review forum

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/331586-opus-88-koloro-in-orange-a-modern-japanese-eyedropper/?hl=opus

[benn093]

The pen posts fine and I think it writes well, even if the nib is a little stiff. It is comfortable to hold and to write with for long periods. It is also a great conversation point with non-pen users.

 

One thing I worry about is staining the barrel with non-blue washable inks, so I am playing safe for now. I would love to change the nib for something with a tiny bit more flex, too.

[Karmachanic]

Pen comes with a schmidt #5. Maybe a Bock?

Edited March 11, 2018 by kd3

[Sheaffer270]

Pen comes with a schmidt #5. Maybe a Bock?

Actually its a Jowo. A very decent nib, but I replaced mine with a Franklin Christoph

[Driften]

I like mine so far. The nib on my is really fine. I got it with a B nib but it writes like a medium fine.

My main issue is how long it takes to unscrew the cap. It's not a big deal when you are going to be using it a lot, but it's the last pen I would grab for quick notes. I expect I will replace the nib with something wider. Too bad I don't have any of my F-C #5's left. Only #6's.

[Jon R.]

I received the clear demonstrator model yesterday and am overall pleased with it. I did have to give the nib unit an unusual amount of, er...shall we say tweaking? to get the pen to start writing and then write juicily; first time, I believe, that I've had such a hassle with a screw-in (Schmidt) nib unit. But now it works very well indeed. I tried a Franklin-Christoph screw-in (no. 6 size) unit in it and had no problem with that at all. Nice to be able to swap like that, especially as so many #6 screw-in units are readily available at fairly low cost.

 

As regards posting the cap: on mine, it is impossible, so I don't know how that photo got made. Anyway if it -did- post, it would be way too big for me to write with anyway. I do generally prefer posting but am able to make concessions gracefully in the case of pens this large (another example is my Ranga Zayante, a wonderful pen that, though you -can- post it, is really ungainly, in my opinion, posted).

 

I find the workmanship on the Koloro all-acrylic demo to be about 4 on a scale of 5, no major complaints, certainly. I ascribe the hard-start problem, now fixed, to the nib unit and not the pen itself. The valve works smoothly and I am tickled to be able to experience use of such a valve without paying an exorbitant price for a vintage Japanese eyedropper pen. I've been curious for a couple of years or more about such a system, and now understand it and find it ... well, okay. No problem with it. It does seem a little unnecessary but I can see that theoretically it might prevent some kind of leakage down the line.

 

I'd recommend this pen to anybody who enjoys eyedroppers (they're my favorites!) and also likes large pens. People with smaller hands might think twice, though.

[Sheaffer270]

I received the clear demonstrator model yesterday and am overall pleased with it. I did have to give the nib unit an unusual amount of, er...shall we say tweaking? to get the pen to start writing and then write juicily; first time, I believe, that I've had such a hassle with a screw-in (Schmidt) nib unit. But now it works very well indeed. I tried a Franklin-Christoph screw-in (no. 6 size) unit in it and had no problem with that at all. Nice to be able to swap like that, especially as so many #6 screw-in units are readily available at fairly low cost.

 

As regards posting the cap: on mine, it is impossible, so I don't know how that photo got made. Anyway if it -did- post, it would be way too big for me to write with anyway. I do generally prefer posting but am able to make concessions gracefully in the case of pens this large (another example is my Ranga Zayante, a wonderful pen that, though you -can- post it, is really ungainly, in my opinion, posted).

 

I find the workmanship on the Koloro all-acrylic demo to be about 4 on a scale of 5, no major complaints, certainly. I ascribe the hard-start problem, now fixed, to the nib unit and not the pen itself. The valve works smoothly and I am tickled to be able to experience use of such a valve without paying an exorbitant price for a vintage Japanese eyedropper pen. I've been curious for a couple of years or more about such a system, and now understand it and find it ... well, okay. No problem with it. It does seem a little unnecessary but I can see that theoretically it might prevent some kind of leakage down the line.

 

I'd recommend this pen to anybody who enjoys eyedroppers (they're my favorites!) and also likes large pens. People with smaller hands might think twice, though.

Thanks for your thoughtful review and Im glad you like your demonstrator. My regular Koloro 88 just barely posts and is fairly unwieldy when in that configuration.

They just released a new model (the Picnic) on Pen Chalets website; another eye dropper with shut off valve. I am waiting till I graduate and start work to gift myself one.

[Karmachanic]

Thanks for your thoughtful review and Im glad you like your demonstrator. My regular Koloro 88 just barely posts and is fairly unwieldy when in that configuration.

They just released a new model (the Picnic) on Pen Chalets website; another eye dropper with shut off valve. I am waiting till I graduate and start work to gift myself one.

 

The European distributor is showing the Picnic in three colours for €2.50 less than the Koloro. Wonder why the price is higher in the US. I prefer the Koloro shape and the contrasting ebonite.

Edited April 4, 2018 by kd3

[pquig]

sketchstack asked if the Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator would post. My calipers show that the diameter of the blind cap at the end is 14.06 mm while the inside of the cap is 13.22 mm. It behaves as the measurements would suggest-- it won't post. Still, the body of the pen is long enough for almost any hand to use comfortably, 136.69 mm (or 5.4 inches).

[KellyMcJ]

Mine is rapidly becoming a favorite pen, it is drier than some other pens that I have, and has a lot of feedback but is also very smooth which is a bit odd to describe.

 

Mine posts flawlessly and I almost always use it posted.

[alanlight]

I like the demonstrator version quite a bit...

Edited July 11, 2018 by alanlight