Lamy Safari vs Lamy Vista??

[inkstainedruth]

@boilermaker1975 -- The Mint al-Star didn't wow me (not a shade of green that I like).  But I'm now seriously eyeing the Dark Dusk al-Star SE (even though I already have the Safari Dark Dusk SE -- in fact, had to buy a second one of those after losing the first one within days of it arriving in the mail... ).  I'm just trying to figure out how close the al-Star is in color to the Safari one....  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[boilermaker1975]

@inkstainedruth Just got home late last night. Can't wait to get our held mail as I have two Lamy Safaris (dark dusk and scarlet) to try. I probably won't get that mint green for a while, at least till I see how I like Lamy pens. These are my first. Also I need to go on a pen diet. I also have a Retro 51 in transit to me.

[inkstainedruth]

I didn't think I could get used to the triangular grip at first, until someone gave me a Jinhao 599 (a knockoff of a Safari or al-Star).  But now I'm a huge fan of the "real McCoy" (the Jinhao was okay but kinda writes like the $5 US pen it is).  I like the range of nibs available, and the ease in swapping them out.  Ironically -- I don't have any of the "standard' colors, just a bunch of the SE colors (which don't cost any more than the regular line up) except for one LX that I got when their old US distributor had a closeout sale, and I actually ended up paying less for it than the standard retail price of a Safari! 

Sent email off to Goulet Pens asking about the color difference between the Dark Dusk Safari and the Dark Dusk al-Star and was sent a link on their YouTube page where Brian Goulet does a side by side between the two "Dark Dusk" pens and also with some other al-Star colors.  And they are enough different (the Dark Dusk Safari is more dark blue and the Dark Dusk al-Star is definitely more purple) that I'm sorely tempted now....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[boilermaker1975]

@inkstainedruth I got a medium nib and it writes much broader than any of my other pens with medium nibs. I need to look into swapping with a fine nib. Where is a good place to get nibs for Lamy Safaris?

[inkstainedruth]

Anyplace that sells Safaris/al-Stars/Vistas.  The sites I've looked at mostly are charging $6 US for replacement nibs (which are super easy to swap out -- just slide the nib out with a piece of masking tape in a roll, sticky side out, and then slide in the replacement nib over the top of the feed).  I got the Dark Dusk Safari (and its replacement, when I lost the first one) from Vanness Pens -- they had a fuller set of nibs (most places only had those pens in EF/F/M) and was able to order the nib I wanted (black, M) at no additional charge.  

Of course, I ended up buying a bunch of inks each time, and buying the Z28 converters for the pens -- in order to get to the threshold for free shipping....  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[boilermaker1975]

@inkstainedruth Thanks Ruth. 

 

You are like me,I always want to get over that free shipping threshold.

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah.  Unfortunately that means I end up with a bunch of ink samples and bottles I haven't even opened yet....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[PBWilson1970]

On 2/17/2025 at 4:31 AM, jchch1950 said:

Lamy should offer Lamy Vista in different shades of transparent material. What about a blue or orange Vista?

 

So, seriously, when will LAMY take the hint and start making these? 

Maybe match them to their inks? Beryl, Amazonite, Neon Lime, Azurite? C'mon! They'd look amazing.