This pen is only called "Vanishing Point" in the US. In the rest of the world it is called "Capless". In Japan only, apart from the standard 18K gold nib version there is also a version of the Pilot Capless with a "special alloy" nib which is cheaper.
I got one recently...Gave in to the "Yes, I have to get it" vs "No, I have too many pens" My experience with the medium 18k nib is that it writes broader than my Lamy B and all other medium nibs I have infact it makes the pilot MR nib seem fine Not sure if that is what I should have expected sine I intended to use it as a jotter I believe I should have bought the fine nib ... But the this Capless writee smoother than any of my previous pens
I can't believe they named an ink after .... anyway, I have two Decimos, with sharp italic grinds (Linda Kennedy!) as my EDC. I carry two so I can have two colors of ink. I found the Vanishing Points just a tad too heavy for a shirt pocket, so when they came out with the Decimo, I was delighted!
Thank you, Chris. I enjoy my matte black VP. I had a medium nib in it but found it stiff and like a marker, without nuance. So I ordered an EF nib unit and find it great for needle fine writing for grocery lists or marginal notes. The click is fun.
I have the matte black version with a medium nib and found it put out too much ink for everyday writing on inferior paper and was just a little too wide for writing in my planner/journal. I switched to the fine nib and carry it everyday with either my Travelers passport or Tomoe River journal. I like that it's quick to deploy, use and put away without holding up lines. My only problem is not having another body for the medium nib, which, for the moment, is my favorite nib size. Like you said, the nib assembly is easy to change, but that gets old. Lessons learned! Thanks for another great video. I both enjoy and learn from them.
@@Neehalmahfuz Mine fine is smooth and may have just a hint of feedback. It's still my go-to for notebooks, on-the-go note taking, and anything requiring fast, small writing. My medium is still waiting for the right pen body - but gets switched when I have a Kaweco or Delike inked and in my pocket. I don't think you'll be disappointed with either nib.
@@jefferyspencer8523 Thanks! I am really confused about which nib to get many reviews say that the medium is way more smoother and that the fine can be scratchy but if i go with the medium i won't be use it on cheaper (college) papers, plus i prefer pens with not too much width as my handwriting is on the smaller side. As it will be kind of a grail pen for me (i probably won't be owning a smoother pen in a while) i m left hanging deciding whether to go with more smoothness or more usability.
@@Neehalmahfuz I've only been using fountain pens for a few years. Maybe you should speak or communicate with someone more knowledgeable. Any reputable business or people like chrisrap, brian goulet, sbrebrown, pens and tea, etc... I would hate for you to get a grail pen and then be unhappy. Best of luck in this endeavor!
@@jefferyspencer8523 Thank You! I have just recently got into fountain pens (about 2 months) and i am loving them. I have my eyes on the vanishing points as they are way cheaper in our region and am seriously considering getting one. I have watched alot of reviews of the vanishing point and asked you as you mentioned you own both nibs. Thanks for helping.
I have a Decimo vanishing point with a 18k Rhodium plated medium nib and a 18k Rhodium plated stub nib. Both write well after 6 weeks of use. Hard starts on the stub now and then and I have to hold it in a more upright position. I have the Pearlescent white version and it looks fantastic. I use Pilot Iroshizuku murasaki-shikibu ink in the medium and Diamine Havasu Turquoise in the stub unit. I bought the stub unit from Goulet pens 3 weeks ago. Easy to find. Great review of my favourite recently purchased grail pen. I bought it from a bricks and mortar shop near me. I had seen it in there for 3 years at least and finally asked to hold it. It felt good in the hand so I knocked the price down a bit and bought it. She had the Iroshizuku murasaki-shikibu ink too so I bought that too. £150. The stub nib unit was £80 plus shipping and the dreaded US to UK import duties so £100.
Glad to hear you have a grail pen. Some pens work better for some people. I found the gold 14k much better than the black 18k. The coating effects the writing.
A friend of mine had one of these. They do tend to write nice, but they aren't really comfortable for long writing sessions. As mentioned, that converter doesn't hold a ton of ink so it really does seem best for short quick notes rather than long form writing. Also nice combo on that last pen. humourous. Looks like a nice brown ink too.
I owned a Vanishing Point in metallic blue and black matte in fine and I find it very helpful in some rapid jotting, making some notes and the like, maybe is how easy and ready to use the mechanism it is. Nice review, I liked the comparison between the different nib sizes and the chinese homages 😁.
Thank you as always, Chris. It's always great to hear your thoughts we value so much on these pens! Looking at that stub nib and your drawing of the grind, it would appear that Pilot possibly intended for it to be used at a very steep 60-90 degree angle compared to your average stub that works just fine at a lower angle? Have you noticed any difference in the smoothness at a steeper angle? It sounds almost like you would be able to create a better grind from a broad/medium?
I have an 18K fine as well as a couple of steel (special alloy) fine nib models. I actually tend to use the steel nib models more as it is finer, and they are better for daily use on low quality paper. Sadly, all have fallen into disuse over the years. They are great pens, but so are many other pens. I am sure they will come back into rotation accordingly.
Chris, were your problems with the VP stub nib more cuz it had a black coating or because it was a stub? I am considering ordering a chrome version of the stub (not black) for my Decimo (I have a F in it now), so that is why I am asking. I use my Decimo at work every day (great for the shirt pocket and for marginalia on papers that I grade), but I am tempted also to purchase the stub nib as a spare for letter correspondence, etc. What do you think?
I discovered many VP owners, like me, were initially disappointed by how 'dry' and skippy their pen was. Only after research did I find ways of making it write wetter. Now, it is a delight to use! It boiled down to exercising the nib quite a bit, applying extra pressure, and repeatedly swerving the tip of the nib over toothy paper until, like a rodeo horse, it relented and started to write nicely. Why Pilot would let them out that way I can't imagine, especially given the price tag.
I also find the small ink capacity limiting. Can easily empty in a day. The ergonomics are not a favorite of mine. Nice to hear you got your nib writing wetter.
@@chrisrap52 The VP would suit someone who signs lots of items in a day, or marks others' work, so they haven't got to cap/uncap their pen a lot. For a long write, I'd find that clip tedious.
Nice review, I use my black/rhodium VP as a daily carry to the office. Fav office pen and most people can’t tell it’s a fountain pen. I syringe fill a cartridge and it holds twice as much as the CON-40. It sounds like you are eating candy during the beginning of the video.
How did you like the 45th POTUS ink? I've had my eye on it for a while and haven't gotten around to trying it, but the sample pictures look pretty. Your input would helpful. Also, I probably won't buy one, but I didn't catch what model the first Chinese imitation pen was. Could you share that so I can at least check pricing (assuming I can find it at all, of course)? It looks like a Vanishing Point, Zebra F-301, and something like a Hero 103 (not the best match, but the closest thing in my collection) got combined somehow and I'm intrigued. Thanks for another really interesting pen review.
@@renaejackson2553 Thanks. There's only one on eBay right now. Apparently it's discontinued, so more collectible than I expected. Sadly not in my budget, either. Maybe I can get one eventually.
Have you considered Mike Masuyama fixing the Broad? I like the VP, but don't love it. I wish they made a lightweight aluminum version. Its 30g heft is far too heavy for me.
Surprisingly, the LE Guilloche from a couple of years ago seems to have a plastic body and is lighter than most VPs, but the same diameter. It's also textured and pleasant to hold.
I have had the VP on my list for some time, but I just felt like i would be let down and not enjoy it. The clip placement bothers me mostly, but the pen seems so convenient for work. Thanks as always for the review!
It's certainly not a nib that will impress anybody? I'll take it as for fountain pen addicts. Then, yeah perhaps. For normal people who grew up using pencils and ballpoints, an entry-level steel nibbed pen can totally impress a lot of people, let alone a retractable gold nib that I'd assume is smooth and has some softness(I don't own one so wouldn't know but given it's pilot)
Espero que algunos espectadores interesados puedan buscar videos de bolígrafos que pueda mencionar. Agrego enlaces en la descripción cuando siento que es parte de la revisión. Me alegra que disfrutes mirar.
I agree. I have the Dagong 56 and you have to reset the nib after a few hours of "capping" it. The nib is inconsistent, I have relegated it to a collectors item. As such it is mainly a conversation piece.
I have a VP and it's my least favorite pen. I can't get a good ink fill to save my life, and the nib has the baby's bottom problem. Maybe I should send it off to a nibmeister to have it looked at/fixed.
This pen is only called "Vanishing Point" in the US. In the rest of the world it is called "Capless". In Japan only, apart from the standard 18K gold nib version there is also a version of the Pilot Capless with a "special alloy" nib which is cheaper.
I got one recently...Gave in to the "Yes, I have to get it" vs "No, I have too many pens"
My experience with the medium 18k nib is that it writes broader than my Lamy B and all other medium nibs I have infact it makes the pilot MR nib seem fine
Not sure if that is what I should have expected sine I intended to use it as a jotter I believe I should have bought the fine nib ... But the this Capless writee smoother than any of my previous pens
Thanks for giving me a good chuckle on the last pen/ink combination :)
Well said 😀
I can't believe they named an ink after .... anyway, I have two Decimos, with sharp italic grinds (Linda Kennedy!) as my EDC. I carry two so I can have two colors of ink. I found the Vanishing Points just a tad too heavy for a shirt pocket, so when they came out with the Decimo, I was delighted!
Don't have, never help a Decimo. Didn't know they;re lighter. I do find the weight to detract from my use of the VP.
Decimo fan here too!
Thank you, Chris. I enjoy my matte black VP. I had a medium nib in it but found it stiff and like a marker, without nuance. So I ordered an EF nib unit and find it great for needle fine writing for grocery lists or marginal notes. The click is fun.
I have the matte black version with a medium nib and found it put out too much ink for everyday writing on inferior paper and was just a little too wide for writing in my planner/journal. I switched to the fine nib and carry it everyday with either my Travelers passport or Tomoe River journal. I like that it's quick to deploy, use and put away without holding up lines. My only problem is not having another body for the medium nib, which, for the moment, is my favorite nib size. Like you said, the nib assembly is easy to change, but that gets old. Lessons learned! Thanks for another great video. I both enjoy and learn from them.
how does the fine compare to the medium in terms of smoothness?is it worth getting over the medium?
@@Neehalmahfuz Mine fine is smooth and may have just a hint of feedback. It's still my go-to for notebooks, on-the-go note taking, and anything requiring fast, small writing. My medium is still waiting for the right pen body - but gets switched when I have a Kaweco or Delike inked and in my pocket. I don't think you'll be disappointed with either nib.
@@jefferyspencer8523 Thanks! I am really confused about which nib to get many reviews say that the medium is way more smoother and that the fine can be scratchy but if i go with the medium i won't be use it on cheaper (college) papers, plus i prefer pens with not too much width as my handwriting is on the smaller side. As it will be kind of a grail pen for me (i probably won't be owning a smoother pen in a while) i m left hanging deciding whether to go with more smoothness or more usability.
@@Neehalmahfuz I've only been using fountain pens for a few years. Maybe you should speak or communicate with someone more knowledgeable. Any reputable business or people like chrisrap, brian goulet, sbrebrown, pens and tea, etc... I would hate for you to get a grail pen and then be unhappy. Best of luck in this endeavor!
@@jefferyspencer8523 Thank You! I have just recently got into fountain pens (about 2 months) and i am loving them. I have my eyes on the vanishing points as they are way cheaper in our region and am seriously considering getting one. I have watched alot of reviews of the vanishing point and asked you as you mentioned you own both nibs. Thanks for helping.
I have a Decimo vanishing point with a 18k Rhodium plated medium nib and a 18k Rhodium plated stub nib. Both write well after 6 weeks of use. Hard starts on the stub now and then and I have to hold it in a more upright position. I have the Pearlescent white version and it looks fantastic.
I use Pilot Iroshizuku murasaki-shikibu ink in the medium and Diamine Havasu Turquoise in the stub unit.
I bought the stub unit from Goulet pens 3 weeks ago. Easy to find.
Great review of my favourite recently purchased grail pen.
I bought it from a bricks and mortar shop near me. I had seen it in there for 3 years at least and finally asked to hold it. It felt good in the hand so I knocked the price down a bit and bought it. She had the Iroshizuku murasaki-shikibu ink too so I bought that too. £150.
The stub nib unit was £80 plus shipping and the dreaded US to UK import duties so £100.
Glad to hear you have a grail pen. Some pens work better for some people. I found the gold 14k much better than the black 18k. The coating effects the writing.
A friend of mine had one of these. They do tend to write nice, but they aren't really comfortable for long writing sessions. As mentioned, that converter doesn't hold a ton of ink so it really does seem best for short quick notes rather than long form writing.
Also nice combo on that last pen. humourous. Looks like a nice brown ink too.
Love the 45th Potus in the "Orange" pen. Well done sir.
Thank you.
I owned a Vanishing Point in metallic blue and black matte in fine and I find it very helpful in some rapid jotting, making some notes and the like, maybe is how easy and ready to use the mechanism it is. Nice review, I liked the comparison between the different nib sizes and the chinese homages 😁.
Unique design. I like mine for the ease of deployment. The clip helps stabilize my finger grip, but some people find it annoying.
Thank you as always, Chris. It's always great to hear your thoughts we value so much on these pens!
Looking at that stub nib and your drawing of the grind, it would appear that Pilot possibly intended for it to be used at a very steep 60-90 degree angle compared to your average stub that works just fine at a lower angle? Have you noticed any difference in the smoothness at a steeper angle? It sounds almost like you would be able to create a better grind from a broad/medium?
I didn't find a consistent sweet spot. I agree the grind is difficult to use for my Western writing.
I have an 18K fine as well as a couple of steel (special alloy) fine nib models. I actually tend to use the steel nib models more as it is finer, and they are better for daily use on low quality paper. Sadly, all have fallen into disuse over the years. They are great pens, but so are many other pens. I am sure they will come back into rotation accordingly.
Has anyone seen the "alloy" nib units for sale?
@@chrisrap52 No, but I have purchased the entire pen including nib for less than an 18K nib unit
@Andro mache Yes that is what I did.
Chris, were your problems with the VP stub nib more cuz it had a black coating or because it was a stub? I am considering ordering a chrome version of the stub (not black) for my Decimo (I have a F in it now), so that is why I am asking. I use my Decimo at work every day (great for the shirt pocket and for marginalia on papers that I grade), but I am tempted also to purchase the stub nib as a spare for letter correspondence, etc. What do you think?
I don't have a gold stub to compare but I would expect the black coating doesn't help. I do like the 14K M gold nib better.
I discovered many VP owners, like me, were initially disappointed by how 'dry' and skippy their pen was. Only after research did I find ways of making it write wetter. Now, it is a delight to use! It boiled down to exercising the nib quite a bit, applying extra pressure, and repeatedly swerving the tip of the nib over toothy paper until, like a rodeo horse, it relented and started to write nicely. Why Pilot would let them out that way I can't imagine, especially given the price tag.
I also find the small ink capacity limiting. Can easily empty in a day. The ergonomics are not a favorite of mine. Nice to hear you got your nib writing wetter.
@@chrisrap52 The VP would suit someone who signs lots of items in a day, or marks others' work, so they haven't got to cap/uncap their pen a lot. For a long write, I'd find that clip tedious.
Nice review, I use my black/rhodium VP as a daily carry to the office. Fav office pen and most people can’t tell it’s a fountain pen. I syringe fill a cartridge and it holds twice as much as the CON-40. It sounds like you are eating candy during the beginning of the video.
just the mic brushing against my light box.
How did you like the 45th POTUS ink? I've had my eye on it for a while and haven't gotten around to trying it, but the sample pictures look pretty. Your input would helpful.
Also, I probably won't buy one, but I didn't catch what model the first Chinese imitation pen was. Could you share that so I can at least check pricing (assuming I can find it at all, of course)? It looks like a Vanishing Point, Zebra F-301, and something like a Hero 103 (not the best match, but the closest thing in my collection) got combined somehow and I'm intrigued.
Thanks for another really interesting pen review.
POTUS is a nice shading brown link. On the lighter shade. I have no model for the first Chinese retractable pen. There are no markings on the pen.
@@chrisrap52 Thanks. One of the few times I actually care about the Chinese convention of having brands and model numbers on their pens.
@@chrisrap52 Thanks. One of the few times I actually care about the Chinese convention of having brands and model numbers on their pens.
I have one of those first Chinese pens (sans dragon) and it is called a Dagong 56. I got it on ebay for $85 from overseas.
@@renaejackson2553 Thanks. There's only one on eBay right now. Apparently it's discontinued, so more collectible than I expected. Sadly not in my budget, either. Maybe I can get one eventually.
Love the orange pen. It's beautiful. Thanks for a great video.
Have you considered Mike Masuyama fixing the Broad?
I like the VP, but don't love it. I wish they made a lightweight aluminum version. Its 30g heft is far too heavy for me.
Maybe next time I see him at a show. Heard the Decimo is lighter, listed at 20gm.
@@chrisrap52 It is... smaller thought, too. I tried the decimo and it feels undersized. The VP and Decimo are lovely pens, but... not perfected IMO.
Surprisingly, the LE Guilloche from a couple of years ago seems to have a plastic body and is lighter than most VPs, but the same diameter. It's also textured and pleasant to hold.
I have had the VP on my list for some time, but I just felt like i would be let down and not enjoy it. The clip placement bothers me mostly, but the pen seems so convenient for work. Thanks as always for the review!
Great constructive review. I am very familiar with the VP family. And I agree with your thoughts completely. Thanks again for sharing!
It's certainly not a nib that will impress anybody? I'll take it as for fountain pen addicts. Then, yeah perhaps. For normal people who grew up using pencils and ballpoints, an entry-level steel nibbed pen can totally impress a lot of people, let alone a retractable gold nib that I'd assume is smooth and has some softness(I don't own one so wouldn't know but given it's pilot)
I do not plan to acquire any more. These are iconic pens that many like, not me.
Hola Chris, excelentes tus videos, pero, sería bueno que colocaras nota a todos los que revisas, no solo algunos. felicitaciones.
Espero que algunos espectadores interesados puedan buscar videos de bolígrafos que pueda mencionar. Agrego enlaces en la descripción cuando siento que es parte de la revisión. Me alegra que disfrutes mirar.
Please make the review of the chinese capless pens :)
They are not usable pens. I do not plan to review more than you saw in this video.
I agree. I have the Dagong 56 and you have to reset the nib after a few hours of "capping" it. The nib is inconsistent, I have relegated it to a collectors item. As such it is mainly a conversation piece.
Buen video, buen análisis. No estoy seguro de invertir ese dinero en esa pluma estilográficas. Cordial saludo
Thanks Chris .
Near my favourite. Constantly growing on me.
45 POTUS lol, Chris.
Now I’m going to wait for Chinese to make vanishing point
I have a VP and it's my least favorite pen. I can't get a good ink fill to save my life, and the nib has the baby's bottom problem. Maybe I should send it off to a nibmeister to have it looked at/fixed.
I agree,