Pen Review: Esterbrook Camden "Composition" Edition

July 8, 2020

In less than two years since acquiring the relaunched brand, Kenro has grown Esterbrook into a fixture of the modern fountain pen scene. Their original release, the “Estie,” is wildly popular, as evidenced by the success of the recently released oversized “Sparkle” edition, made with Diamondcast acrylic, which many retailers already have sold through. Beyond the Estie, the company has begun to get some traction with what I will describe as their secondary model, the Camden, an anodized aluminum pen that originally came in three brushed “satin” finishes: Rose, Silver, and Graphite. Today, I look at a limited edition version: the Camden “Composition” in “Spring Break Fluorescent Green.”

The finish is my favorite aspect of the Camden Composition. The marbling has a nice texture that eliminates any slipperiness inherent in most metal pens.

The inspiration behind this limited edition will be obvious to those of you who have ever attended school in the U.S.: the classic composition book. Esterbrook has taken the Camden and applied a textured marbled finish akin to the traditional covers on these notebooks. Currently, two colors have hit the market: “Back to School Black” and “Spring Break Fluorescent Green,” with “Fall Leaves Burgundy” apparently coming in Fall 2020, per the Esterbrook website.

The Esterbrook Camden features a standard Schmidt nib without the Esterbrook branding found on the Estie. The “Composition” edition uses the same contoured brushed metal section as on the standard version.

As much as I love the finish and the aesthetics on this particular model, the Camden itself is a bit of a mixed bag for me personally. While it’s a well-made pen, and the stainless steel Schmidt nib makes for an excellent daily writer, the proportions of this particular pen feel a bit off. The Camden is already a relatively long pen, and Esterbrook’s cushion-cap system (discussed further below) makes it even longer when posted because the cap doesn’t rest deeply on the barrel. As a committed “poster” - especially for daily writer-type pens intended to be used in class or at the office - I’ve found the Camden too back-heavy to use for long writing sessions. Unposted, the balance is much better, but the tapered barrel has has me really wanting to post this pen, and I can’t help but wonder how much I would love the Camden if the cap sat just a bit deeper on the back.

As I mentioned, like the Estie, the Camden features Esterbrook’s spring-loaded “cushion cap” that uncaps with only 3/4 of a turn, allowing for quick deployment. As with the Estie, there may be a bit of a learning curve for those unfamiliar with this sort of closure. In order to engage the cap you will need to gently push the cap down and turn to engage the threads. After you’ve done it once or twice, it’s not a big deal, and the purpose behind the design is similar to Platinum’s “Slip & Seal” system: the inner cap acts as a seal that prevents the nib from drying out even if you leave the pen sitting unused for long periods of time. While systems like these are nice to have, they’re not a huge draw for me personally, since I rarely leave pens sitting inked for weeks at a time (much less months).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Like the Estie, the Camden is another well-made fountain pen from Esterbrook that will serve you well as a daily writer, but if you post your pens the Estie might be a better choice. Posting the cap on that pen just feels a bit more secure, and the slightly shorter posted length and lighter-weight acrylic makes the Estie more comfortable for me to write with for longer sessions. Price-wise, the Camden and Estie both sit at the $156 retail price point - the current standard for higher-end steel nib pens - so I can’t really argue with Esterbrook’s decision here, even though I might like to see the Camden closer to $130 simply because the Estie feels more “premium.”

The Esterbrook Camden compared against the Estie.

I acquired the pen featured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet, which currently has the Camden Composition in stock in both the “Back to School Black” and “Spring Break Fluorescent Green” finishes. Though I’ve not yet seen the pen start to sell out, Esterbrook apparently has limited the run to 250 pens in each color, so eventually this one will go away.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is a participant in the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which allows me to earn store credit for orders placed with Pen Chalet through links on this site. It’s one of many ways I’m able to support the blog and continue to acquire new products for review.

Pen Review: Pelikan M120

December 12, 2018

Pelikan reintroduced its “iconic” M120 fountain pen a couple of years ago, in a green and black color scheme reminiscent of the original M120 school pens that the company manufactured in the 1950s and 1960s. The original pens are still fairly common finds at pen shows, so when Pelikan re-released the M120 I immediately recognized the design. At the time, I took a pass. Only when Pelikan released the “Iconic Blue” special edition, and I had the opportunity to write with one of the excellent EF nibs during my visit with the Big Apple Pen Club last month, did the M120 recapture my attention.

The Pelikan M120 isn’t a flashy pen - it’s designed to be a workhorse. The body features a classic cigar or torpedo shape, unlike Pelikan’s typical flat-ended pens like the M2XX series or the higher-end Souveran pens in the M4XX-M1XXX series. The M120 does sport the same classic “bill” clip as Pelikan’s other pens, along with - in my favorite touch - a tinted ink window that matches the overall color scheme of the pen: blue for the “Iconic Blue” M120; green for the green-black version. Posted or capped, the pen is just a touch longer than the M205 and the M400. Unposted, all three pens are the same size.

You get some extra scrolling/decor on the M120 gold-plated stainless nib. Check out the blue-tinted ink window.

The M120 comes equipped with a gold-plated stainless steel nib, an excellent writer that I might prefer to Pelikan’s gold nibs, at least in the finer tip sizes. I ordered both pens with EF nibs, and was pleasantly surprised with (1) how well both of them wrote out of the box with no modification and (2) how Pelikan’s stainless EF wrote what I consider to be a “true Western EF” line. Don’t go expecting Sailor or Pilot extra-fine, but it’s not like Pelikan’s gold EF nib, which writes like what I’d consider a medium.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the M120 (as well as the M200 and M400 series): The ability to swap in vintage nibs like this OM (oblique medium) that I picked up at the DC Pen Show a few years back.

Pelikan has taken some flack for the price point of the M120. Currently, the standard M120 in green and black is priced at $265 MSRP with a street price of around $212, reflecting exactly a 20% discount from the MSRP. Storewide coupon codes can get that price below the $200 mark, but it’s still an expensive purchase and certainly at the higher end of the spectrum for a pen with a steel nib. Curiously, the special edition “Iconic Blue” version of the M120 has an MSRP of $235, with a street price of around $188. To me, that $30 makes a big difference in affordability (or the perception of affordability), as many people hesitate to go above the $200 price point (or even the $165 price point) for a pen with a steel nib.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love the M120, and while I’m a fan of Pelikan Pens in general, I think I appreciate this pen even more as a well-executed, faithful reproduction of a classic. At the end of the day, the price doesn’t even bother me all that much. While I’d like to see this pen consistently priced in the $150-165 range, I can’t say that the M120 isn’t worth the current asking price. It’s a Pelikan - the piston filling mechanism is reliable and the nibs are excellent. Moreover, if you’re a collector of vintage Pelikan pens or have a pen from the M400 series in your collection, those nibs are interchangeable with the modern M120, so this is a great way to use vintage nibs (like the oblique medium featured here) in a modern pen body that may better withstand daily use.

I acquired both of the Pelikan M120 pens pictured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet. Both the Iconic Blue and Green-Black models are still in stock, and have been for a while, though the Iconic Blue is classified as a “special edition,” which typically indicates that Pelikan sells the pen for about a year or so before retiring it. What remains to be seen is whether the M120 becomes a standard model in the Pelikan lineup, with new special editions coming out each year like the M200, or maybe somewhat less frequently like the M101N.

Disclaimer: I acquired both pens featured in this review from Pen Chalet using store credit earned through their affiliate program. This post contains affiliate links.

A comparison shot of (from left) the Pelikan M120 Green-Black; the M120 Iconic Blue; the M205 Olivine; and the M400 Brown Tortoise.

A New Distributor and Other Updates from Diplomat, Germany's Unsung Hero

October 31, 2018

Diplomat is one of those pen companies that traditionally has flown under the radar. They make high quality pens that are true workhorses, yet for whatever reason never garner the same amount of attention as the other major German brands. With a new distributor in place for the U.S. (Yafa, who also distributes Monteverde, Pineider, and Stipula, among other brands), I would expect that to change. Diplomat pens certainly had a wider presence at this year’s D.C. Pen Show, and more retailers are starting to carry their full lineup.

So What’s New with Diplomat Pens?

I’ve previously reviewed a couple of Diplomat’s offerings, including the iconic, Zeppelin-inspired Aero. During a bout of downsizing a year ago, I sold off my two Aeros, but missed having the pen so I picked up a new one in matte black. I immediately noticed a few differences.

The logo on this Aero seems like it will stay put. The one aspect of the Excellence A2 that I dislike is the plastic cap finial - I think it cheapens the look of the pen.

While Diplomat has not made any major design changes to the Aero, the finish seems less “matte” than in previous versions. This change may have been intended to increase durability - while the previous version looked great, the coating had a tendency to chip and flake, and as reflected in my prior review, the logo on the top of the cap actually scratched off. The snap cap also feels tighter, which is a welcome adjustment and makes the pen feel higher-quality. Previously, I had heard reports of Aero caps loosening over time and developing a tendency to spin and rattle, much like I experienced with the Lamy Aion.

Even though Diplomat uses standard JoWo nib options in stainless steel or gold, they’re well-tuned and come engraved with Diplomat’s “propeller” logo.

Recently, I’ve also had the opportunity to test the Excellence A2, Diplomat’s follow-up to the Excellence A. While the Aero receives most of the attention due to its distinctive design, the “Excellence” series is Diplomat’s conservative “flagship” pen - plainly directed at a business crowd - and it may remind you of a rounded version of Waterman’s “Exception” series (only much less expensive). According to the Diplomat website, the updated “A2” features a new and improved spring-loaded clip, as well as a “soft sliding click” cap that Diplomat claims is more durable. (From the product descriptions on the Diplomat website, it appears they made the same adjustments to the cap closure on both the Excellence line and the Aero.) I wrote with the Excellence A2 at work fairly extensively for two weeks, and enjoyed the pen. The section offers plenty of grip space, and the pen itself seems indestructible.

A good clip is a crucial element to a daily workhorse, at least for me. The spring-loaded clip on the Excellence A is solid - no cheap folded metal here.

The one potential drawback to the Excellence A2 is the weight, especially if you post. The pen is very well-balanced either way, but it’s still substantial. This didn’t end up as an issue for me - my hands are just large enough to handle a heavier pen - but if weight tends to bother you I’d test this one in person before committing to a purchase.

The overall build quality on the Diplomat Excellence A2 impressed me, from the simple, subtle engraving around the cap band to the metallic “Midnight Blue” finish. Here you can also see the addition of the spring loaded hinge on the clip.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Both the Excellence A2 and the Aero are nice pens that deserve your consideration if you’re in the market for a reliable workhorse that’s compatible with all of the JoWo nib units you may own. As I’ve mentioned before, as far as JoWo nibs go, Diplomat’s are some of the best out there. I’ve heard the company works closely with JoWo to ensure the nibs used on Diplomat pens are properly tuned, and I’ve not experienced any issues with them being misaligned or scratchy.

I acquired both of the Diplomat pens featured in this post from site sponsor Pen Chalet. Pricing on both the Excellence A2 and the Aero ends up at a street price of around $150, sometimes a bit less if there’s an applicable coupon code. This places Diplomat around the same price point as brands such as the new Esterbrook, production-line Edison pens, and Franklin-Christoph (and maybe even a bit lower). Given the quality, the price is reasonable, and I have no difficulty recommending Diplomat as a brand to someone who likes their style.

In addition to the traditional matte brown, black, silver, and orange, Diplomat recently released the Aero in two new colors: blue and “factory” (raw aluminum). Also, our sponsor Anderson Pens currently stocks a special edition version of the Aero in a gorgeous bright red. Be sure not to miss the latter if you’re considering an Aero. That one’s a stunner.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Pen Review: What's with the Lamy LX?

July 14, 2018

Lamy caused a lot of shoulders to shrug a couple years ago when they released the Lamy "LX," which to many people looked just like a pricier Lamy AL-Star in three new color options and a new nib. And honestly, that's really what it is, though I do like both the redesigned nib and the new color schemes.

The Lamy LX features a redesigned black-plated steel nib. Sharp looking!

There's not too much new here to review. The Lamy LX is very much an "upgraded" version of the AL-Star, and the functionality is the same. Let's be clear: you're paying a premium for looks, from the "iPhone-style" anodizing, to the redesigned nib, to the premium packaging. All of this boosts the price of the LX to $50+ at most retailers, compared to $38 for a standard AL-Star. Whether or not the upgrade is worth it to you depends on your own aesthetic preference, and I will say that the redesigned nib looks stellar. It also feels slightly stiffer than the standard Lamy Safari/AL-Star stainless steel nib, so if you prefer a true "nail," you might want to consider this pen. If you missed my earlier review of the Lamy AL-Star, you can check it out here. It's a great pen, but I think over time I've come to prefer the Safari since it's lighter and better balanced, IMHO.

The Lamy LX nib (left) compared against the AL-Star nib (right).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Again, don't buy a Lamy LX thinking that you're going to get something other than an AL-Star, at least as far as the core writing experience is concerned. That said, I'm not sorry that I have this "ruthenium" pen in my collection - it looks great, and the nib writes smoothly with no hiccups.

You can purchase the Lamy LX from our sponsor Pen Chalet, which currently has them on sale at $49, before any applicable coupon codes or further discounts. The LX is available in four colors: Gold, Palladium, Rose Gold, and Ruthenium, which will match up well with whatever color iPhone you carry (assuming you're an Apple fan).

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink from Pen Chalet using affiliate credit. I was not compensated monetarily for this review, though this post does contain affiliate links.

Ink Review: Lamy Vibrant Pink Special Edition Ink

July 11, 2018

Around this time every year I review Lamy's special edition inks that they release to complement their special edition Safari and AL-Star fountain pens. If you recall, last year Lamy released their "Petrol" fountain pen ink, which ended up gaining more attention for its scarcity than the actual color. This year they have another winner with Vibrant Pink, though it seems to fall a bit outside of the typical Lamy "safety zone," as I'll discuss more below.

Wait, Sheen AND "Glistening"?

Yep. In a Lamy ink. Until now, the craziest thing about Lamy ink was the bottle, with its incorporated roll of blotter paper. The inks themselves were fairly staid inks that didn't venture into outlandish colors or properties. So when I inked this one up and wrote with it, I was surprised to see a fair bit of gold (or sometimes greenish?) sheen, as well as a subtle glistening/glitter effect.

This photo came out better than I thought it would! You can see a lot of the sheen in the wetter areas of this swab, as well as some of the glistening effect. In normal writing both are fairly subtle.

Some sheeny and glistening inks suffer from slow dry times and smearing, but this one not so much. I've been using this ink to mark up documents at work, and it even works fairly well on cheap paper, so in that respect Vibrant Pink is similar to your standard Lamy ink. You may get a bit of precipitation on the nib (i.e., "gunk"), which is not uncommon with sheeny inks, but it didn't affect the ink flow or writing experience in any way.

Comparison swabs with the other two pinks in my collection: Callifolio Andrinople (top) and Kyoto TAG Imayou-Iro (bottom).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Lamy makes great inks, and IMHO they don't get enough attention. The limited edition Vibrant Pink is a bit of an outlier, with the gold sheen and shimmer, but I haven't had any issues in the two or three fills of this ink that I've used. Since I have so much ink right now, including several different pinks, I won't be stockpiling extra bottles, but if you're looking to add a pink to your rotation, this is a good one.

You can purchase Lamy Vibrant Pink Special Edition Ink from our site sponsor Pen Chalet. One nice thing about Lamy Ink is the price point - you get excellent ink for $12 per bottle, and that's before any applicable coupon codes or discounts.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink from Pen Chalet using affiliate credit. I was not compensated monetarily for this review, though this post does contain affiliate links.