I bought one of these just before the “You know what” hit last year, my first fountain pen in quite a few years. One of the first things i noticed, other than the “Sweet spot”, was the scratches that developed inside the cap after just a few days. Once i came to really know the pen i really started to like it a lot.
I didn’t think there was anything new to bring to a review of a Lamy Vista or Safari, but you brought up some interesting points. The most interesting to me was about how the cap doesn’t scratch the barrel much. I also found the Fred Rogers quote quite moving. Thanks! BTW, I have found Lamy nibs of the same size to vary in smoothness, flow and line width from one nib to another.
If the Vista did not have an ink window, then it could be used as an eye dropper pen because it still does have an o-ring. That would result in an enormous ink capacity.
An eyedroppered Vista would be cool! Unfortunately, it's not just the ink windows you'd be dealing with. There are also small holes in the back of the barrel. Also, the black band on the Vista is not an o-ring. I think it's purely decorative. You would have to add an o-ring. The funny part though is that the o-ring and holes at the end of the barrel would be relatively easy fixed. It's those darn ink windows that are the biggest problem.
@@DowntheBreatherHoleThe body of the lamy Safari rollerball has the same threads on the body but does not have the ink hole. So if you buy a roller safari for the barrel part you can make a eyedropper pen.
@@DowntheBreatherHoleCancel that. To meet federal regulations and not have a choking hazard the pen has holes in the end of the body to give it vents so in case a baby swallows it (how is irrelevant) he will not asphyxiate.
I've one for over 20 years. After a while it becomes brittle and the raised columns that holds the raised bit of converter cracks and you have to change the entire grip. Cap becomes cloudy more than the grip/body. Body becomes yellow but cap stays clear. I don't know why cap and body are different materials or chemical composition but they age differently. Feeds channel that penetrates the converter or cartridges also become brittle and might crack. If you keep it in stabilized atmospheric environment it may last but semi-daily use of 20+ years, it starts to fall off and needs replacement parts. Opaque Safari colors don't have these problems. There's something different with the Clear Vista.
Get a Vista Rollerball and swap the barrel from that with the barrel of the Vista Fountain. They look the same except the rollerball doesn't have windows.
That's a fantastic idea! I didn't think about the rollerball version of the Lamy Vista. Now that you've jogged my memory, I'm even more confused about why the fountain pen version has ink windows. haha
@@DowntheBreatherHole I don't know, if the Vista rollerball barrel will fit the fountain pen, though it looks very similar. I'm merely speculating and can't help noticing the similarity. Lamy could save themselves money, if they were to use a common barrel. It may be the internal structure is different, preventing a rollerball barrel, taking a cartridge or converter.
I post my Safari, but not the Vista and Al-Star because the posting will scuff up the inner cap of the Vista and sometimes take some paint off of the Al-Star's barrel. Speaking from experience here. It doesn't mean you shouldn't post the caps. Just be gentle.
My first ever proper pen I bought was a lamy safari neon green 5-6 years ago, despite having used founraitpens for long, they've always been Random cheap stuff from my dad or people The pens are boring and can't handle shimmer, but they're reliable pens! Great for day to day use if you don't need a big capacity . It doesn't have an amazing cap seal tho! I love how easy nib swapping is! Sadly the feeds are stuck. But it's not that big of a deal! I think their boringness is a good thing for a lot of people not super into the hobby, specially If they don't use it enough to need re-inking every 3-4 days for daily use. Tho that's not a problem to me as I love new inks :p but people like me mess with these pens too much xD And mental illness is something I'm sadly very experianced with. I have... A few... Autism spectrum, ocd, ADHD, anxiety disorders, potential C-PTSD, depression, the list.. goes on :/
Very good video. Experience after usage is very helpful for users. I have this pen though I don't use it bcz of the converter. I found that after sometime, the converter doesn't run smooth. Got another one and the same thing happened after a couple of months. It's extremely difficult to open and use silicon grease to make it smooth. I have never seen any reviewer explain this problem.
The converters can be a little stiff. One option is to clean out your pen with a bulb syringe and clean the converter using an ink syringe. That way you only need to use the converter to fill the pen. But if you want to take apart the converter, I think goulet pens had a video about how to do that.
Just buy a package of Lamy cartridges. Use one, refill it as long as it is tight enough. And if it starts to lose grip take the next cartridge. So you have always a new "converter". I do it like that for at least 20 years. The cartridges are pretty durable.
I love Lamy pens. I don't know if you've seen my unboxing video of the Pineider Matrix? It's a $2000 fountain pen I won in a giveaway. I much prefer my $30 Lamy pens. I sold the Pineider because I didn't enjoy using it.
@@DowntheBreatherHole I've always been skeptical of the need for expensive pens. I do, at the same time, have an appreciation for the artistry of Japanese and European high-end pens, they are just not for me. A pen's basic function is as a receptacle for the ink and a handle for the nib to make it practical to use. (I'll probably get hate mail for this.)
@@channelsixtyeight068_ no hate mail from me. Haha I'm totally with you. That said, I do hope to someday add a Lamy 2000 and a Pilot Vanishing Point to my collection. Bespoke resin pens from small makers are also very cool. But again, I get it. I have a used Mont Blanc. It's a lovely pen, but I don't see why someone would spend $500+ on one. I enjoy my Safaris more.
I took the risk and bought a used Lamy Vista. It was pretty dirty and looks very used, but there is no real damage. To my surprise it writes better than it looks. The only little problem, there is some ink trapped in the cap between that metal part and the plastic wall. Any idea how I can get that out?
Looking for my first fountain pen and am concerned about the "love it or hate it grip section". I don't want to spend the money then find out I hate the grip section. Is there another brand that has all the goodness of Lamy but no risk on the grip? Thanks
That's an excellent question! When possible, it's always best to go to a pen shop and try a fountain pen out for yourself before buying. Unfortunately, that's not the reality for most people, myself included. There are a lot of good entry level fountain pens out there. In my opinion, none of them have the durability/longevity of the Lamy Safari, but they are still good options. I'd probably go with a Pilot Metropolitan or TWSBI Eco. As long as you are gentle with them, they'll last you for years.
Any pen lasts a good lot of time with proper care. I don’t use Lamys anymore - safaris/vista/al star/studio (except for my 2000 and a vintage lamy 27) not because they are bad pens but I just don’t like the writing experience anymore. Not a big fan of those nibs, and less of a fan of the hassle to properly clean those feeds, I have some even cheaper pens than the Lamys that I enjoy more writing with (e.g. some moonmans, almost all PenBBS pens, TWSBIs, cheaper pilots like the explorer)
They are essentially the same pen. The key differences are the looks. So the Lamy Vista and Lamy Safari are both good. I prefer the Safari because it doesn't show as many scratches as it ages, and there are so many fun colors to choose from.
Hey there! My pen's body is going yellow - it was kept in storage for some time and now I've washed it with water but not helping. Any suggestions, please?
That's really strange! Yellowing usually means the plastic body of your Lamy Vista pen is degrading on a molecular level. If that's the case, I don't think you can reverse it. My only other thoughts are (1) your Vista is a fake or (2) it's being stained by chemicals in your pen case. Is it leather? If it's staining like this, I recommend trying a magic eraser. I wouldn't use one on an expensive pen, but it should be fine on a Lamy Vista.
@@DowntheBreatherHole I think it is because of the other pens that were kept with the Lamy. It is an original one because it was bought from a certified store. I will definitely try to use a magic eraser and see if it works. Thanks for replying!
Look, I'm going off the cuff here on an unrelated note - but the yellowing staining on plastics is a huge issue in the classic computer world. They've been able to bleach out the yellowing on some plastics with bleaching agents. It is thought that the yellowing could be based on the release agents from the forming jig. That said, before you use various bleaching agents on your pens (which can lead to crazing of the plastic - extra cloudiness). Try using a polishing compound. It's a classic way of treating foggy/yellowing headlights from the same era. If polishing can remove the yellowing, try sealing the pen with some wax to prevent oxidation. The coloration change appears to be influenced by O2 more than just UV. A pen yellowing inside of a case away from light would agree with that concept. If you don't have polishing compound, use a q-tip and some toothpaste. That mild abrasive shouldn't overly damage the pen. Your mileage may vary. Once again, that's going off of two different worlds where similar issues have been noted.
I got mine yesterday after trying the classic charcoal black at the store... It just does not feel the same and I am quite disappointed 🥲 the grip section is almost sharp, not smooth as it is for the other safaris.. and I agree that the silver print is not going to last. also, the plastic feels terribly cheap to me! I don't know, I honestly think it is a big flop from Lamy, compared to the others safari.. I am even hoping mine is not legit, but I checked multiple times every detail, and it also writes smoothly.. but having that cheap plastic in my hands, feeling a sharp grip, twisting the barrel everytime with the hope that it will not crack.. I don't know.. it is aesthetically pleasant, but in the hands it feels like a cheap pen. I will go to the store today to double check again if mine is legit because I really can't accept that 😩 anyone else feels the same?
The edges on the grip section can feel a bit sharp, which is unfortunate. The plastic on the Lamy Vista is pretty good stuff. It's probably one of the tougher budget plastic pens out there. But yeah, I like the Safari better, especially the matte versions.
![MISSING: SLIM SHADY [Expanded Mourner’s Edition Trailer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xh8qgHrOO1g/mqdefault.jpg)
Vista / Safari is a true and tested design, I'm sure they went through enough iterations to improve the reliability and durability
I bought one of these just before the “You know what” hit last year, my first fountain pen in quite a few years. One of the first things i noticed, other than the “Sweet spot”, was the scratches that developed inside the cap after just a few days. Once i came to really know the pen i really started to like it a lot.
I didn’t think there was anything new to bring to a review of a Lamy Vista or Safari, but you brought up some interesting points. The most interesting to me was about how the cap doesn’t scratch the barrel much. I also found the Fred Rogers quote quite moving. Thanks! BTW, I have found Lamy nibs of the same size to vary in smoothness, flow and line width from one nib to another.
Thanks! Yeah, I'm always thinking about how I can bring a fresh perspective to my reviews.
If the Vista did not have an ink window, then it could be used as an eye dropper pen because it still does have an o-ring. That would result in an enormous ink capacity.
An eyedroppered Vista would be cool! Unfortunately, it's not just the ink windows you'd be dealing with. There are also small holes in the back of the barrel. Also, the black band on the Vista is not an o-ring. I think it's purely decorative. You would have to add an o-ring. The funny part though is that the o-ring and holes at the end of the barrel would be relatively easy fixed. It's those darn ink windows that are the biggest problem.
@@DowntheBreatherHoleThe body of the lamy Safari rollerball has the same threads on the body but does not have the ink hole. So if you buy a roller safari for the barrel part you can make a eyedropper pen.
@@DowntheBreatherHoleCancel that. To meet federal regulations and not have a choking hazard the pen has holes in the end of the body to give it vents so in case a baby swallows it (how is irrelevant) he will not asphyxiate.
Thought I suppose you could use a bit of clear epoxy to plug the hole.
I've one for over 20 years. After a while it becomes brittle and the raised columns that holds the raised bit of converter cracks and you have to change the entire grip. Cap becomes cloudy more than the grip/body. Body becomes yellow but cap stays clear. I don't know why cap and body are different materials or chemical composition but they age differently. Feeds channel that penetrates the converter or cartridges also become brittle and might crack. If you keep it in stabilized atmospheric environment it may last but semi-daily use of 20+ years, it starts to fall off and needs replacement parts. Opaque Safari colors don't have these problems. There's something different with the Clear Vista.
That's strange!
The clip on this pen is genius, I could not have a pen without a clip. The ink window also irritates me lol it was the first thing I noticed haha
Same! I love the clip, but the ink window on a clear pen is lazy design, in my opinion.
I want one, but I will be putting on a 1.1mm stub nib.
Get a Vista Rollerball and swap the barrel from that with the barrel of the Vista Fountain. They look the same except the rollerball doesn't have windows.
That's a fantastic idea! I didn't think about the rollerball version of the Lamy Vista. Now that you've jogged my memory, I'm even more confused about why the fountain pen version has ink windows. haha
@@DowntheBreatherHole I don't know, if the Vista rollerball barrel will fit the fountain pen, though it looks very similar. I'm merely speculating and can't help noticing the similarity.
Lamy could save themselves money, if they were to use a common barrel. It may be the internal structure is different, preventing a rollerball barrel, taking a cartridge or converter.
I post my Safari, but not the Vista and Al-Star because the posting will scuff up the inner cap of the Vista and sometimes take some paint off of the Al-Star's barrel. Speaking from experience here. It doesn't mean you shouldn't post the caps. Just be gentle.
Fun fact: The Lamy Vista was originally a Safari demonstrator. At some point, Lamy decided to give this pen its own name.
Yeah! I've heard that! I think it was called the Lamy Safari Vista, but I could be wrong.
BTW, I’m new to Fountain Pens. What’s the Breather Hole
Good question! The name definitely confuses some people. The breather hole is the little hole on the top of a fountain pen nib.
seen many videos but non provide information about the cost. amazing.
Thanks!
My first ever proper pen I bought was a lamy safari neon green 5-6 years ago, despite having used founraitpens for long, they've always been Random cheap stuff from my dad or people
The pens are boring and can't handle shimmer, but they're reliable pens! Great for day to day use if you don't need a big capacity . It doesn't have an amazing cap seal tho!
I love how easy nib swapping is! Sadly the feeds are stuck. But it's not that big of a deal!
I think their boringness is a good thing for a lot of people not super into the hobby, specially If they don't use it enough to need re-inking every 3-4 days for daily use. Tho that's not a problem to me as I love new inks :p but people like me mess with these pens too much xD
And mental illness is something I'm sadly very experianced with. I have... A few...
Autism spectrum, ocd, ADHD, anxiety disorders, potential C-PTSD, depression, the list.. goes on :/
Awesome review. Love your handwriting. Great quote !
Why thank you! Like a lot of people, I feel a bit insecure about my handwriting, so that means a lot.
@@DowntheBreatherHole we all do. its a life long pursuit my friend.
Very good video. Experience after usage is very helpful for users. I have this pen though I don't use it bcz of the converter. I found that after sometime, the converter doesn't run smooth. Got another one and the same thing happened after a couple of months. It's extremely difficult to open and use silicon grease to make it smooth. I have never seen any reviewer explain this problem.
The converters can be a little stiff. One option is to clean out your pen with a bulb syringe and clean the converter using an ink syringe. That way you only need to use the converter to fill the pen. But if you want to take apart the converter, I think goulet pens had a video about how to do that.
Just buy a package of Lamy cartridges. Use one, refill it as long as it is tight enough. And if it starts to lose grip take the next cartridge. So you have always a new "converter". I do it like that for at least 20 years. The cartridges are pretty durable.
The Lamy Vista ... my favorite pen, irrespective of cost.
I love Lamy pens. I don't know if you've seen my unboxing video of the Pineider Matrix? It's a $2000 fountain pen I won in a giveaway. I much prefer my $30 Lamy pens. I sold the Pineider because I didn't enjoy using it.
@@DowntheBreatherHole I've always been skeptical of the need for expensive pens. I do, at the same time, have an appreciation for the artistry of Japanese and European high-end pens, they are just not for me. A pen's basic function is as a receptacle for the ink and a handle for the nib to make it practical to use. (I'll probably get hate mail for this.)
@@channelsixtyeight068_ no hate mail from me. Haha I'm totally with you. That said, I do hope to someday add a Lamy 2000 and a Pilot Vanishing Point to my collection. Bespoke resin pens from small makers are also very cool. But again, I get it. I have a used Mont Blanc. It's a lovely pen, but I don't see why someone would spend $500+ on one. I enjoy my Safaris more.
I took the risk and bought a used Lamy Vista. It was pretty dirty and looks very used, but there is no real damage. To my surprise it writes better than it looks. The only little problem, there is some ink trapped in the cap between that metal part and the plastic wall. Any idea how I can get that out?
That's a great question. I have a video for how to fix that with a twsbi Eco. I wonder if it's a similar principle?
Looking for my first fountain pen and am concerned about the "love it or hate it grip section". I don't want to spend the money then find out I hate the grip section. Is there another brand that has all the goodness of Lamy but no risk on the grip? Thanks
That's an excellent question! When possible, it's always best to go to a pen shop and try a fountain pen out for yourself before buying. Unfortunately, that's not the reality for most people, myself included. There are a lot of good entry level fountain pens out there. In my opinion, none of them have the durability/longevity of the Lamy Safari, but they are still good options. I'd probably go with a Pilot Metropolitan or TWSBI Eco. As long as you are gentle with them, they'll last you for years.
Awesome review
Thank you!
Any pen lasts a good lot of time with proper care. I don’t use Lamys anymore - safaris/vista/al star/studio (except for my 2000 and a vintage lamy 27) not because they are bad pens but I just don’t like the writing experience anymore. Not a big fan of those nibs, and less of a fan of the hassle to properly clean those feeds, I have some even cheaper pens than the Lamys that I enjoy more writing with (e.g. some moonmans, almost all PenBBS pens, TWSBIs, cheaper pilots like the explorer)
Can you please suggest which one to pick ? vista or safari ?
They are essentially the same pen. The key differences are the looks. So the Lamy Vista and Lamy Safari are both good. I prefer the Safari because it doesn't show as many scratches as it ages, and there are so many fun colors to choose from.
Hey there! My pen's body is going yellow - it was kept in storage for some time and now I've washed it with water but not helping. Any suggestions, please?
That's really strange! Yellowing usually means the plastic body of your Lamy Vista pen is degrading on a molecular level. If that's the case, I don't think you can reverse it. My only other thoughts are (1) your Vista is a fake or (2) it's being stained by chemicals in your pen case. Is it leather? If it's staining like this, I recommend trying a magic eraser. I wouldn't use one on an expensive pen, but it should be fine on a Lamy Vista.
@@DowntheBreatherHole I think it is because of the other pens that were kept with the Lamy. It is an original one because it was bought from a certified store.
I will definitely try to use a magic eraser and see if it works. Thanks for replying!
Look, I'm going off the cuff here on an unrelated note - but the yellowing staining on plastics is a huge issue in the classic computer world. They've been able to bleach out the yellowing on some plastics with bleaching agents. It is thought that the yellowing could be based on the release agents from the forming jig.
That said, before you use various bleaching agents on your pens (which can lead to crazing of the plastic - extra cloudiness). Try using a polishing compound. It's a classic way of treating foggy/yellowing headlights from the same era. If polishing can remove the yellowing, try sealing the pen with some wax to prevent oxidation. The coloration change appears to be influenced by O2 more than just UV. A pen yellowing inside of a case away from light would agree with that concept. If you don't have polishing compound, use a q-tip and some toothpaste. That mild abrasive shouldn't overly damage the pen. Your mileage may vary.
Once again, that's going off of two different worlds where similar issues have been noted.
Question please. Does Vista need an ink window ? Thanks.
In my opinion, the Lamy Vista does not need an ink window, but it's there because it saves them from redesigning the Safari pen body.
I got mine yesterday after trying the classic charcoal black at the store... It just does not feel the same and I am quite disappointed 🥲 the grip section is almost sharp, not smooth as it is for the other safaris.. and I agree that the silver print is not going to last. also, the plastic feels terribly cheap to me! I don't know, I honestly think it is a big flop from Lamy, compared to the others safari.. I am even hoping mine is not legit, but I checked multiple times every detail, and it also writes smoothly.. but having that cheap plastic in my hands, feeling a sharp grip, twisting the barrel everytime with the hope that it will not crack.. I don't know.. it is aesthetically pleasant, but in the hands it feels like a cheap pen. I will go to the store today to double check again if mine is legit because I really can't accept that 😩 anyone else feels the same?
The edges on the grip section can feel a bit sharp, which is unfortunate. The plastic on the Lamy Vista is pretty good stuff. It's probably one of the tougher budget plastic pens out there. But yeah, I like the Safari better, especially the matte versions.