Is there any love for the Lamy Dialog or is the Pilot Capless so much better?

After receiving an email saying that the Lamy Dialog is currently offered on Massdrop, and it was the most requested drop, I've been considering the pros and cons between the Lamy Dialog and the Pilot (VP) Capless.

I'm assuming they both have a clip that needs to line up with the nib so that it doesn't interfere with your thumb or forefinger as you write.

I've held both at different times and seem to remember the Dialog is a thicker pen. I'll put that on my pros side as I don't like thin pens. However, the Pilot also doesn't qualify as thin for me.

Presumably both accept proprietary cartridges plus converters, and care needs to be taken when filling so that ink doesn't go inside the end of the cap.

The Dialog doesn't come in as many different colours or finishes as the Pilot.

The Dialog usually costs more.

Anything else that should be considered?

Weight could be a consideration. I haven't held a Dialog 3 but according to Goulet it's about 50% heavier than the modern Capless (which I find heavy): 30g v 47g.

That's a good point. :thumb:

For me, the Dialog is just to thick and to heavy :(

... but I still like it and have one in my collection :)

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2689/...02c09c79_b.jpgLAM_015 von -C.M.Z-

c.

Thanks Christof. I will want to use it, so it has to be practical for that purpose. :)

Very different pens and both come with converters. It's one of those where I'd recommend trying one for 3-4 minutes first as they both have pros and cons depending on your preferences. Both have the clip in the correct place for a tripod grip, but if you place a finger on top as part of your hold, then the VP is a non-starter, where as the D3 retracts the clip to near flush with the body, so may still be usable.

The VP is lighter and quicker to use, good for quick notes, but personally I find the end of it tapers in too much and it becomes uncomfortable to use. The D3 is heavy and at first feels weird, however after about 5-10 seconds you stop noticing that and it becomes comfortable and very well balanced, but is still heavy. The mechanism is very good, but you need two hands to twist/open the nib, where as the VP is just a button press. When closed for a period I find my VP dries out quite quickly and suffers badly from ink evaporation - I'm not the only one if you look at the forums, however if you use it a lot then that's not an issue. D3s originally had a similar problem but the updated version (been around for a good few years now) has fixed this problem. You can tell the version by where the converter sits in the inner mechanism as the 2nd gen has two Safari type holes for ink level viewing.

Nib wise, I'm a fan of both Pilot and Lamy gold nibs, but between the two I much prefer the full sized Lamy gold nib to the short Pilot one.

Annoyingly if you'd posted this a day or two ago I'd have talked you in to coming to the Southern England Pen Club at the Heron on the Lake in Fleet, Hapmshire, and could have brought mine with me for you to try.

I've had both and still have the VP two years later whereas the Dialog went after a month or so. I found the two-handed twist to expose the nib of the Dialog less convenient and it was heavier than I like. I only needed one of those pens and the VP was a clear winner for me.

I’ve only held it in hands, never used it for an extended period of time, but it’s a thick, heavy pen. I find VP already too heavy for extended writing sessions, the Dialog 3 is much heavier. The clip is not as much in the way as it is on the VP, but the clip has never been a problem for me with the VP.

For comparison, a Pelikan M800 or a Pilot Custom 823 or a Montblanc 146 weight around 20g - and those are all big pens. The Dialog 3 is nearly 2.5x as heavy. It’s just too much.

In a universe where I can have infinite amount of money in pens, the Dialog would have a place in my collection for sure, because it’s such an interesting pen. But as it stands, it’s a no for me personally.

I get to use a buddy's D3 pretty often. It's big and kind of weird. The mechanism is cool and the nib is good.

It's odd enough that I 'd recommend a lengthy test drive before purchase.