Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Thank you Sg for compiling the list.
In my "formative" period in this fountain pen hobby, the list was very short, and only SBRE and Pen Habit had enough content for me to come back to.
As a beginner, I find these videos quite helpful, because I can pick up varieties, facts and preferences without having to actually spend the money for a pen that I may not like in the end.
But as I progress in the hobby, I needed less and less of these reviews. Because, as Jon Szanto mentioned, I can pick up the facts much faster from reading. Plus, most of the styles of the newer video reviewers are not my cup of coffee.
But I'd like to recognize that even to make the simplest review video, it is a lot of work. I tried to make one review video of a vintage pen, and it's already difficult for me. :)
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
penwash
Thank you Sg for compiling the list.
In my "formative" period in this fountain pen hobby, the list was very short, and only SBRE and Pen Habit had enough content for me to come back to.
As a beginner, I find these videos quite helpful, because I can pick up varieties, facts and preferences without having to actually spend the money for a pen that I may not like in the end.
But as I progress in the hobby, I needed less and less of these reviews. Because, as Jon Szanto mentioned, I can pick up the facts much faster from reading. Plus, most of the styles of the newer video reviewers are not my cup of coffee.
But I'd like to recognize that even to make the simplest review video, it is a lot of work. I tried to make one review video of a vintage pen, and it's already difficult for me. :)
One of the most valuable aspects of online reviews for me is when you see the various nibs in action. That's hard to visualize, particularly when discussing obliques, cursive italics, double broads, etc.
SBRE Brown did a review where he had 10 Churchman's Prescriptors inked identically and 10 different nibs as offered by Mr. Pen. It did two things for me. Made me want to buy a Churman's Prescriptor (I like big metal-based pens) and a broad cursive italic nib. So I bought one with the cursive italic nib.
But without the video I would have only been able to guess at the various rarely seen nibs and how they write.
It's like handwriting videos. One could explain at great length how to do certain styles, but watching one video is 1000% more effective.
Cheers!
Sg
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
But without the video I would have only been able to guess at the various rarely seen nibs and how they write.
It's like handwriting videos. One could explain at great length how to do certain styles, but watching one video is 1000% more effective.
I understand your point, and it is very valid, and likely useful to many people. OTOH (literally), I'm left-handed. Watching right-handers use nibs isn't any more useful than a single, static photo of the line widths of the varying nibs, since I will never be writing the same way as them.
Partial tangent: I had three young penfriends who ran a blog for a while (seems to be quiet now) where they did pen reviews and one of the main points was they had many photos showing the pens in-hand - and they had three very different sized hands! (two women, one man). I think that between the size issue and their three individual perspectives on what they liked in a pen, it was an interesting and helpful way to show a pen in different lights. It would be really useful to have a video review in that kind of format.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jon Szanto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
But without the video I would have only been able to guess at the various rarely seen nibs and how they write.
It's like handwriting videos. One could explain at great length how to do certain styles, but watching one video is 1000% more effective.
I understand your point, and it is very valid, and likely useful to many people. OTOH (literally), I'm left-handed. Watching right-handers use nibs isn't any more useful than a single, static photo of the line widths of the varying nibs, since I will never be writing the same way as them.
Partial tangent: I had three young penfriends who ran a blog for a while (seems to be quiet now) where they did pen reviews and one of the main points was they had many photos showing the pens in-hand - and they had three very different sized hands! (two women, one man). I think that between the size issue and their three individual perspectives on what they liked in a pen, it was an interesting and helpful way to show a pen in different lights. It would be really useful to have a video review in that kind of format.
Really appreciated Hand Over That Pen for the diversity of hand sizes and points of view. Most video reviewers (as they constantly like to point out ... can't think why) have large hands.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
catbert
Really appreciated Hand Over That Pen for the diversity of hand sizes and points of view. Most video reviewers (as they constantly like to point out ... can't think why) have large hands.
Thank you. My coffee hadn't kicked in and I couldn't remember their title!
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
Notice in my initial mention of them I say that it was a blog (well, still is). So, no vids but interesting 3-person reviews.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
I'm the type who thinks, 'Shut up and write.'
Cut to the chase. PLEASE. I often mute them and fast-forward.
My favorite video 'reviews' are just close shots of writing. After much dithering, I decided to buy a Lamy 2000 based on a really brief vid of someone writing with an EF in Sailor Souten, which has been in the pen ever since. :cheers:
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
There are a couple of youtubers that can express more without a spoken word than many can do speaking volumes. Just watching them write is beautiful.
Beautiful!!! :amen:
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
I was thinking about what I want from a pen video and whether that is unrealistic, are my expectations too high?
I am not interested in knowing about the packaging and certainly not for 5 minutes of a 12 minute video.
I am not interested in being told whether the pen has pretty plastics in their opinion.
I am interested in any special filling system and how the nib works. I am also interested in how the pen writes, is there a step down for example between the barrel and the section, does the pen feel like a quality item.
I would like to know if the reviewer thinks that the pen offers value for money and compares the pen to competition.
Some reviewers could improve their presention if they looked at car reviews and took note.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sailor Kenshin
I'm the type who thinks, 'Shut up and write.'
Cut to the chase. PLEASE. I often mute them and fast-forward.
My favorite video 'reviews' are just close shots of writing. After much dithering, I decided to buy a Lamy 2000 based on a really brief vid of someone writing with an EF in Sailor Souten, which has been in the pen ever since. :cheers:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
My pet peeves are excessive and useless verbiage, personal life meanderings, general silliness, little to no forethought of what needs to be said and how to say it, trite expressions such as 'like, you know, that's how I roll,' etc.
...
Self-indulgent digression and obvious lack of prep make me want to chew my own arm off. Fortunately, as you say, there is fast-forward.
To be fair, YouTube algorithms are part of the problem: https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/26/8...rch-ad-revenue
-----
A few more reviewers and pen-adjacent content creators I have watched occasionally, some no longer very active or active at all:
Tuzand
Inquisitive Quill
ima4ster
Brian Sizemore
Gerard Zonjee
inkWitty
Jeffry Fridfinnson
Kpurpose10
Leigh Reyes
nswecronos
Jake's Take
Peter Unbehauen
Olive Boy
Seele2015au
ziptrickhead
A.ZY.LEE
K.D.P. Ross
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
catbert
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
My pet peeves are excessive and useless verbiage, personal life meanderings, general silliness, little to no forethought of what needs to be said and how to say it, trite expressions such as 'like, you know, that's how I roll,' etc.
...
Self-indulgent digression and obvious lack of prep make me want to chew my own arm off. Fortunately, as you say, there is fast-forward.
To be fair, YouTube algorithms are part of the problem:
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/26/8...rch-ad-revenue
Much the same reason I find myself wishing to edit Dickens - he was paid by the word, and it showed. Although it didn't seem to do him any harm in the long term.
I'm not the target demographic for video reviews - my connection speed is appalling and fast forwarding requires waiting a fair while until there's anything downloaded to fast forward in the first place. Every minute becomes precious in those circumstances, and even musical intros make me grind my teeth. But for reviews in general, I'd simply observe that it's very easy to say "this is wrong, that's not good enough" and all that, but unless you've done it and really appreciate the amount of work that goes in to it, then you could possibly wind your neck in just a tad and be a little grateful anyone does it at all.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
grainweevil
But for reviews in general, I'd simply observe that it's very easy to say "this is wrong, that's not good enough" and all that, but unless you've done it and really appreciate the amount of work that goes in to it, then you could possibly wind your neck in just a tad and be a little grateful anyone does it at all.
Agreed. We truly are spoilt for choice.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Even I like SBRE Brown though I don't watch review videos in general. He's very good but he mostly reviews modern pens which are not my thing.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Deb
Even I like SBRE Brown though I don't watch review videos in general. He's very good but he mostly reviews modern pens which are not my thing.
I agree. After watching the latest acrylic pen "Now in 25 Colors" reviews I'm much more discerning. I also lament the lack of vintage pen discussions/reviews on Youtube.
Sg
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Deb
Even I like SBRE Brown though I don't watch review videos in general. He's very good but he mostly reviews modern pens which are not my thing.
I agree. After watching the latest acrylic pen "Now in 25 Colors" reviews I'm much more discerning. I also lament the lack of vintage pen discussions/reviews on Youtube.
Sg
You just reminded me - I'm not sure how regularly they post but you do have Grandmia Pens - also doesn't Eckythump have his own channel ?
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dapprman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Deb
Even I like SBRE Brown though I don't watch review videos in general. He's very good but he mostly reviews modern pens which are not my thing.
I agree. After watching the latest acrylic pen "Now in 25 Colors" reviews I'm much more discerning. I also lament the lack of vintage pen discussions/reviews on Youtube.
Sg
You just reminded me - I'm not sure how regularly they post but you do have Grandmia Pens - also doesn't Eckythump have his own channel ?
I dont think he does, I have just done a search on Eckiefump and thump and other permutations without success.
You would need subtitles in any case.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fermata
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dapprman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Deb
Even I like SBRE Brown though I don't watch review videos in general. He's very good but he mostly reviews modern pens which are not my thing.
I agree. After watching the latest acrylic pen "Now in 25 Colors" reviews I'm much more discerning. I also lament the lack of vintage pen discussions/reviews on Youtube.
Sg
You just reminded me - I'm not sure how regularly they post but you do have Grandmia Pens - also doesn't Eckythump have his own channel ?
I dont think he does, I have just done a search on Eckiefump and thump and other permutations without success.
You would need subtitles in any case.
By eck, he might be from wrong side of t border (I seem to remember) but there's nowt wrong with his accent ... ;)
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dapprman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fermata
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dapprman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Deb
Even I like SBRE Brown though I don't watch review videos in general. He's very good but he mostly reviews modern pens which are not my thing.
I agree. After watching the latest acrylic pen "Now in 25 Colors" reviews I'm much more discerning. I also lament the lack of vintage pen discussions/reviews on Youtube.
Sg
You just reminded me - I'm not sure how regularly they post but you do have Grandmia Pens - also doesn't Eckythump have his own channel ?
I dont think he does, I have just done a search on Eckiefump and thump and other permutations without success.
You would need subtitles in any case.
By eck, he might be from wrong side of t border (I seem to remember) but there's nowt wrong with his accent ... ;)
The only thing I would debate is that he is on the wrong side of the border.
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Added a new category to my first post. 'Artistry". Looking for additional people to include in that list.
Thanks and Cheers,
Sg
Re: Pen Reviewers on Youtube
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sgphoto
Added a new category to my first post. 'Artistry". Looking for additional people to include in that list.
I don't know how many straight 'reviews' she has done, but if you want "pens = art", you have to look to Leigh Reyes, a longtime member of the global pen world:
https://www.youtube.com/user/leighpod
That's her channel, where you can see all manner of delightful things...