Safari Vista Fountain Pen - Demonstrator Clear, Extra-Fine Nib L12EF

I have been using this pend for about a month now. For the price, I don't see a better fountain pen available. The nib truly is extra fine, and I am very pleased with it. Using it with noodler's bulletproof black, and it started the ink flowing within half a centimeter of starting to write something, and ink flow is constant and smooth ever since. Not too much, and, unless you leave it out without the cap on too long, not too little. Even if you let it partially dry out, restoring ink flow is easy and quick. On cheap paper, it can accumulate paper fibers under the nib tip over the course of a few days, but these can be removed when this happens by simply wiping it off. Solution: use decent paper. Smooth writing, easy ink monitoring, feels good in the hand. Originally, I gave it 4 stars because the cap makes it a bit topheavy when you are writing, but I have been so pleased with it that I decided to give it 5 stars after all. I'm using it with the converter. Very happy with it's construction, quality and performance - for the price. It's not the classiest fountain pen I ever saw, but it's definitely also not junk either. It's more of a "get it done" functional day to day useful sort of design. I use it everyday, extensively, and have been enjoying writing by hand again immensely with it. It would make a good gift for someone in school, and for someone who would use it for daily office work or writing research notes with, as I do. Not suitable as a gift meant to impress, be high end, or give to someone you are being formal with or who is a superior at work because of the design. Overall, very nice pen. Get the converter. I like the noodler's black ink.

Read a lot of good reviews on this pen and decided to go for it. First off, there's no denying it's cool-looking. There's something both space-age and steam punk about it that really appealed to me. I didn't fool around--I ordered the Z24 converter along with it as I like refilling from bottles. And I ordered a bottle of Noodler's Bulletproof Black, too. So how does it perform? Filling the converter was a snap. Doesn't look like it holds a lot of ink, and time will tell how long I get on a 'tank full.' I wasn't sure I was going to like the grip in this at first; those two slants on top but it didn't take long for it to feel just right. I ordered the EF nib and am glad I did. Several reviewers mentioned that the F nib was like a M, and I already have plenty of those, so it was an easy choice. It writes smooth and started working without much coaxing. You don't need a heavy hand with this pen, but if you do write heavy you'll probably experience the "scratchy factor" that everyone mentions. I wrote on yellow legal pads and the flow was nice, but I have to say that writing on the paper in the Moleskine journal is dreamy--VERY smooth. I did some doodling--cartoons mostly--and I'd say that the drawing capability of this pen isn't quite there; the nib is pretty stiff so you aren't going to get a lot of variety of line. For just fooling around, basic sketching, and doodling it works fine. I know others that draw with this pen all the time. I find my self wanting to write--and write anything--just to play with this pen. I'm hooked! I would say that any of the negative reviews here are the result of user error, inexperience with fountain pens, or perhaps a random lemon. I have not had any issues in two days of using it and not even a single pin-prick size spot of ink anywhere on the pen; all the ink is in the converter right where it's supposed to be, unless summoned forth by my hand. I like this pen a lot. I have a Noodler's pen that came with the Noodler's Heart of Darkness ink that is pretty awesome, but it may lose hand time to the Vista now.

Whether starting out with the fountain pen type or wanting more choice for how one writes in terms of writing tips, LAMY proves to be quite functional. This clear design variant of their Safari model may not have the same attraction as its black-bodied original, but it writes just the same and teaches you how to properly grip, write with a fountain pen. This purchase had the extra fine tip installed on it with a blue ink cartridge, and after enough testing, I don't think I need the regular Fine tip to know that Extra Fine works for me. I would say the proper grip on the pen body is comfortable enough to eventually disappear into your hand after enough time to where you no longer consciously think about it. Official ink cartridges by the company have only a handful of choices when it comes to color variety, but there is a reusable reservoir cartridge that works with the pen and allows you to use whatever make and color inks you would like with it. I have not gotten to that point yet, but so far, I see the writing experience as better than I could have ever imagined. With a generally low price of entry, I believe the LAMY Safari is the best first step for beginners in absence of any PILOT Varsity pens to test to see if these will suit their style, or the best second step for anyone who wants the option to have a variety of tips for their writing or drawing.

Schönes klares Schriftbild, auch bestens zum Sketchen geeignet.

Objet très design, lignes bien dessinées. On aime, ou pas. Plume fine, mais écriture bien fluide. Pour moi: au lieu des cartouches, un adaptateur et une encre de grande qualité. Expérience: je l'ai laissé tranquille 2 mois, réessayé aujourd'hui : AUCUN problème, démarrage instantané. Il existe des plumes plus souples, avec des dorures et tout et tout. Ce n'est pas le même prix... 2 heures d'écriture aujourd'hui : plaisir ! Les Nippons savent fabriquer de la qualité.

I have several Lamy fountain pens, the 2000, AL-Star, Safari and the latest...the Vista. Before I bought the Vista I checked out some reviews and there were many on YouTube. I bought it on price and for the nib that I wanted. Also, some of the parts are inter-changeable. Although in the various reviews there is no difference between the Vista and the Safari, however, there is one, i.e. the logo is printed instead of being edged. Therefore, over time of use, the paint would come off. This is the only downside. Apart from that, the design and built quality is excellent as of Lamy and German engineering. I have no regret in my purchase despite my complaint about the logo issue. It's good value and it is a very good EDC fountain pen. I will continue to buy Lamy pens and my next would be a Safari.

I really like this pen. I wish they improved the ink converter for the future.

Excellent pen... until now, I’d used only Pilot V-pens(Varsity), a Jinhao X750, and a Cross Stratford. I ordered the EF anticipating a thick German line, but this is a very fine line... I’d probably prefer a Fine or Medium, but I got what I ordered, so that’s on me. Very smooth writing... I expected an extra fine to be scratchy, but it’s been great. I ordered a Lamy ink converter, which is due in a week or so... which has me a little worried, because I’m over half done the included cartidge. Update- converter arrived on time and the cartridge still lasted another week... works well and looks great with the Z28? Black knob cartridge converter.