Pelikan M200 or Lamy Studio?

[Guest ketan889]

Hey guys,

I'm back, trying to choose a pen again. What are your thoughts on the Pelikan M200 vs the Lamy Studio?

 

Also, can one get the nib swapped on a M200 from fine to extra fine? What would be the cost associated with this?

 

Thanks!

[RyanL27]

Pelikan 200 all the way in my opinion. While the Lamy is nice, the Pelikan sports a piston filler, which most around here greatly prefer to cartridge/convertor. Also, I find Pelikan nibs to be better writers than Lamy nibs on the whole. Some may disagree with me on this point, but I find Lamy nibs to have somewhat sharp edges while Pels are smooth all over the nib surface. I also prefer the size and feel of the 200 over the Studio; it's smaller and lighter but without sacrificing any feel of quality or durability. Also, if you ever decide to buy a custom nib, you can get one from RICHARD BINDER for a great price without having to send your pen away.

 

I'm a huge Pelikan fan though, and this really is an opinion question. I have lots of more expensive pens, but my 200 is still a daily "go to" pen for me.

 

As far as nib swaps: it's easy, quick and cheap. Send it in to CHARTPAK , and nib swaps are free. All you have to do is cover the shipping to Chartpak, and they even pay for the return shipping - pretty rare in my experience with other companies.

[Guest ketan889]

Why is the piston filler prefered to the convertor?

 

I didn't specify that I would like something to write classnotes with quickly so I have been told that a firm nib is better for this. I don't know if this should influence my decision...

 

Also, I like writing a pretty fine line to take quick notes in classes and I find the Wality 52 line to be fine enough. How does the M200 in fine compare to that? Is there an extrafine available from Chartpak?

 

Thanks!

Edited March 26, 2006 by ketan889

[konstantinos_d]

Having both a Pelikan 200 with a Steel M nib and Studio Palladium with 14ct nib, I must say that I far prefer the Pelikan, both dimension (the Lamy is about 2cm longer) and weight-wise (the Lamy's all metal construction is really heavy), as for the nibs there is absolutely no comparison, even after sending the Lamy back for what I thought to be a defective nib it remains a bit scratchy with lot's of feedback, it is also somewhat noisy as well. Nonetheless, my writing seems to be better with the Lamy, maybe that's due to Fine nib and the drier flow compared to the Pelikan. Pelikan all the way for me too.

[konstantinos_d]

Piston fillers hold more ink (in theory better when you carry the pen around, but then again the cartridge fillers have the extra comodity of the one-use cartridge which you can find almost anywhere, provided it is a universal one which Lamy isn't, so in this case it is not really an advantage). I cannot say for the steel nib of the Lamy, but the Pelikan is pretty firm and wet at the same time, which is good for quick note taking (on the other hand you need to wait for the ink to dry before changing page). As for the EF nib there is also the Pelikan M100 in white with a black steel EF nib which is really nice looking (I cannot comment further, since mine should arrive next week).

[Apollo]

Given the choice I would prefer the Pelikan M200 over the Lamy Studio. Don't get me wrong, Lamys are great pens, but for the same writing experience you'd be better off geting a Safari or an Al-Star instead and save yourself some money. They all share the same nibs, except the Studio is a bit heavier and costs more.

 

The Pelikan M200 is smaller, lighter and as a piston filler it holds much more ink than the Lamy Studio. As Ryan stated, the nibs are easily changed on Pelikans and even the M200's steel nib doesn't feel as stiff as the steel nib on the "stainless" Studio.

 

Like I said, Lamys are great and dependable pens and the Safari/Vista/Al-Star collection are among the best bang for the buck pens you can get, but unless you absolutely must have the Studio because of it's looks, I see no advantage of it over the Safari or Al-Star. Also, there's not all that much difference in writing between the "palladium" and "stainless" versions of the Studio. Personally, if I were to spend more on a Lamy, I'd go right to their flagship model, the Lamy 2000.

[Guest ketan889]

Thanks so much for all the input.

 

One question though, for everyday note writing in classes, do you think the M200 would be worth the price($50-60) vs an $18 Safari?

 

Also, someone mentioned that their handwriting is actually better with the Lamy nib vs the Pelikan, despite the Pelikan being smoother. I think that may make me lean more towards to Lamy Safari because I would like to get the best handwriting I can(I don't really like mine right now).

 

One last question, is it possible to send the M200 to Chartpak and get the nib swapped for an extrafine nib or is there no extrafine nib for the M200?

 

Thanks!

[chad234]

I'd pick the Pelikan every day of the week and twice on Sundays! Keep your eyes open and you can find a 400 for a great price.

 

If you are gonna stick with the 200 series, think about the 250, though the steel nibbed 200's write just fine.

 

Great pens!!

[Guest ketan889]

Thanks, it seems that everyone likes the Pelikan better. Is the 400 a big improvement over the 200? Also, is the M75/GO or Pelikano better than the Safari?

[chad234]

The M75 is a great pen for the price, but to me it feels cheap. I prefer the Waterman Phileas in that price class.

 

I prefer the m400 over the 200 based on looks (striped barrel, two tone gold nib), blind folded I could not tell the difference when writing with them.

[amh210]

One question though, for everyday note writing in classes, do you think the M200 would be worth the price($50-60) vs an $18 Safari?

For note taking at that price point I'd recommend the Wality eye-dropper file. Huge ink capacity, fine nib for fast writing and a perfect price.

 

Very reliable!

 

Andy

[Apollo]

Thanks so much for all the input.

 

One question though, for everyday note writing in classes, do you think the M200 would be worth the price($50-60) vs an $18 Safari?

 

Also, someone mentioned that their handwriting is actually better with the Lamy nib vs the Pelikan, despite the Pelikan being smoother. I think that may make me lean more towards to Lamy Safari because I would like to get the best handwriting I can(I don't really like mine right now). 

 

One last question, is it possible to send the M200 to Chartpak and get the nib swapped for an extrafine nib or is there no extrafine nib for the M200?

 

Thanks!

Lamy marketed the Safari/Vista/Al-Stars as "student" pens and the nibs on them are very stiff. As such, they are great introductory fountain pens for people who are used to writing with ballpoints. Keep in mind that Lamy is all about "form follows function" and these pens were designed to be modern, stylish, and very utilitarian pens. They are very affordable and were made to write . They're like Timex watches. You don't have to worry about lending it to a non-fountain pen user for fear that they might damage the nib. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a Lamy Safari as an everyday writer.

 

The Pelikan M200 series is more traditional looking. Even the translucent models have a traditional profile and are much more refined looking than the Lamy Safaris, but they are much smaller. Some folks find the M200 to be a little small, but I find them comfortable to use.

 

Now, on to what I consider to be the your most important issue: Your handwriting. If you're relatively new to fountain pens, I do not recommend running out and getting the most flexible nib and expensive pen you can find. Fountain pens will help you improve your writing, but it takes a bit of practice. It's not going to happen instantly, and that's why I think a nib on the stiff side is the place to start.

 

In regards to aesthetics, there's really no such thing as a "better than pen" when it comes to fountain pens, It all depends on what pen feels right and works right for you. Do not equate looks and price with writing quality. Like I stated before, the Lamy Studio costs more than a Lamy Safari, but it writes exactly the same. Just because one is made of ABS plastic and the other is stainless steel doesn't mean one is inferior to the other.

 

It's all in the nibs. You can put a mediocre nib on a fancy precious resin barrel with solid gold or sterling silver trim and charge up to $500 plus for it, but if it doesn't write well, then it's no better than a cheap $5.00 Chinese import. Pelikan, Lamy, Kaweco and many others are known to produce pens with good reliable nibs suitable for everyday use and they don't have to cost alot. In the end, it's your money so you can by any pen you want no matter what it's like, but if you want to get the best experience out of fountain pens, I'd say start with small steps.

 

Select a nib size that's best for you. For example, if you find that a Lamy Safari with a fine nib is best for you, then use it for a while. Make it your everyday user and get accustomed to it; then if you want to upgrade, look for a pen with similar features and go from there. That way you can avoid disappointments and not get stuck with a bunch of pens that weren't really meant for you.

Edited March 26, 2006 by Apollo

[KCat]

How does the M200 in fine compare to that? Is there an extrafine available from Chartpak?

 

Thanks!

yes. I usually use Pelikan F and EF nibs on my 200s.

[Betty]

I have an EF Lamy Studio and it feels very scratchy. I ordered the 1.1mm italic nib though to see if that writes better.

[Joe McLaren]

I feel like I ought to stand up for the Lamy!

 

This is such a different pen to the Pelikan, much heavier, and larger too. If you're taking it to work, bear this in mind: the Lamy takes cartridges (neater and more efficient) and the Pelikan has a screw-on cap. You only need a pen to leak in your pocket once to insist on this from then on! BTW, since i started using a 1.1mm Lamy italic nib in 2004, my handwriting has improved immeasurably. Recently, I've been using a Pelikan m400 with a obbb nib, which gives you an italic effect, but so comfortably! If you prefer a very fine nib though, I would suggest the lighter pen as this can improve the manouevrability.

[KCkc]

Depends on which Studio model, there are 2 steel nib models (Black & Brushed Stainless Steel) and 14kt nib model (palladium).

 

I had the 14kt model because the nib is springy compared to its steel models.

But the palladium section may be slippery for some people.

 

Do not care too much for the rubberized black barrel with a metal section and the brushed stainless with the rubberized black section even though I love the brushed stainless looks.

 

The M200 allows you to purchase specialty nibs (choice of steel, gold plated steel, or 14kt gold) from nib masters like Ricahrd Binder who makes killer cursive italics and stubs with Pelikan nibs.

 

Looks: LAMY Studio 14kt Palladium

Practicality & Long Term growth into the pen and nibs : Pelikan M200