Entry level fountain pens

In this video, I cover a number of 'entry level' fountain pens that are fairly cheap (ranging from about $3.30 to about $28.00) and that I consider to be good 'beginner's' pens. Clearly, some of these are a bit more high end than the others, and the fact that they're cheap does NOT mean they are bad pens!

For your convenience, I've put the pens with price indications and filling mechanisms down here, in the same order I discuss them in the video.

1. Pilot Petit1, $3.30, Pilot cartrdiges;
2. Platinum Preppy, $3.95, Platinum cartridges/converter [?]/eyedropper conversion;
3. Noodler's piston-filler, $14.00, piston-filler fills from bottled ink;
4. Ohto F-Spirit, $16.50, cartridges (I think international cartridges will fit)/converter;
5. Parker Vector, $24.00, Parker cartridges/converter;
6. Kaweco Sport Classic, $21.00, international cartridges/Monteverde mini converter/eyedropper conversion;
7. Lamy Nexx 88 M, $28.00 [price went up!], Lamy catridges/Lamy Z24 converter;
8. Noodler's Aerometric, $24.00, aerometric converter (supplied w/pen)/eyedropper conversion.

Something went wrong with the still photos at the end of the video. If you need high-resolution pictures of the writing, send me a message and I'll e-mail them!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• entry
• level
• beginner's
• cheap
• fountain
• pens

[harl3yjan3]

trying to find a compare of the Sailor Clear Candy and the Ohto Rook? :) anyone?  I don't like the scratchiness I'm getting in a brand new Clear Candy (which I have already messed up lol)

[sbrebrown]

@harl3yjan3 Hm, sounds like an interesting comparison - however, I personally do not own either of these pens, so I wouldn't know. If you find a comparison, let me know (I'm considering getting a Rook :-)). Anyone else any thoughts, perhaps? Maybe the Fountain Pen Network?

[yoitzo]

I actually own a couple of pilot petits. The pens are ok but the inks are GREAT. There's a particular pinkish magenta color that I love and can't find in any other boutique inks.

[sbrebrown]

@yoitzo Yes, I agree: the black catridges that I bought with my Petit1 were very nice: a very deep black! So I understand what you're saying!

[sbrebrown]

@fb8568 I know the Safari is a great pen, so then it makes sense to get that one!

[fb8568]

@sbrebrown Yup, in H.K Safari is seem to be cheaper than the Nexx

[sbrebrown]

@fb8568 Indeed, why not :-)? Both are nice pens. The reason I only covered the Nexx was that I don't own a Safari. I know those pens, though, and they're nice!

[fb8568]

Why don't I get a Lamy Safari instead of Lamy Nexx with the same price($28USD)

[sbrebrown]

@aware3218 Well, I've never used Kaweco ink, I must admit. Do you think the ink is too bland, or do you think the pen is too dry? Because my Kaweco sure isn't dry! If yours is, perhaps there is something wrong with the feed?

[aware3218]

Enjoy your videos. With regard to the Kaweco Sport, I recently purchased this pen and I am trying to determine if I am having feed issues or if the blue cartridge it came with really has a blue color that is this....anemic? Do you have any experience with the Kaweco blue?