Conid Minimalistica Vs. Regular?

[tgoto]

Hi guys,

 

I have been intrigued lately by Conid fp.

 

I am considering buying it, but I am not sure if I should get the Regular, or Minimalist.

They both take 2.5ml of ink inside which is great for what I do (use a lot of ink redlining architectural drawings).

 

They both look cool.

 

Minimalist however costs roughly $100 less than Regular.

 

Have you had any experience with them, and do you think it is worth paying more for Regular?

 

Thank you.

[Wolverine1]

Yo might want to post your question in the other sub-forum that is dedicated to discussing European brands of pens. I know that a lot of people have bought Conid pens. You are more likely to get a lot of answers to your questions there. Best of luck.

[mongrelnomad]

I personally have two regulars (and three kingsizes) but no minimalistica. I appreciate the low-cost positioning of the latter, but it feels like an item designed from the regular expressly to lower cost.

 

They are both of impeccable build and unimpeachable quality, but the inclusion of threads, and the general feel, of the regular just pips the minimalistica.

 

I also prefer the section of the regular to the sloping version of the minimalistica, but that's my own personal view.

 

You can't really go wrong with either, to be honest, and now that the minimalistica is available as a full demonstrator, it's a mighty tempting proposition...

[tgoto]

Yo might want to post your question in the other sub-forum that is dedicated to discussing European brands of pens. I know that a lot of people have bought Conid pens. You are more likely to get a lot of answers to your questions there. Best of luck.

Thank you for the advice!

[tgoto]

I personally have two regulars (and three kingsizes) but no minimalistica. I appreciate the low-cost positioning of the latter, but it feels like an item designed from the regular expressly to lower cost.

 

They are both of impeccable build and unimpeachable quality, but the inclusion of threads, and the general feel, of the regular just pips the minimalistica.

 

I also prefer the section of the regular to the sloping version of the minimalistica, but that's my own personal view.

 

You can't really go wrong with either, to be honest, and now that the minimalistica is available as a full demonstrator, it's a mighty tempting proposition...

You are right!

I love threaded caps.

I am leaning toward the regular...

 

What do you think of titanium nib from them?

[gylyf]

I have both. I really like Minimalistica, but the Bulkfiller is in a different league and would be my recommendation. Both are extremely comfortable, the filling systems are identical, and both are exceedingly well-made. However, the cap of the Minimilastica can be a bit of a hassle, while the threaded cap of the Bulkfiller is perfection.

[tgoto]

I have both. I really like Minimalistica, but the Bulkfiller is in a different league and would be my recommendation. Both are extremely comfortable, the filling systems are identical, and both are exceedingly well-made. However, the cap of the Minimilastica can be a bit of a hassle, while the threaded cap of the Bulkfiller is perfection.

Thank you for your input!

 

I think I want to go for regular with fine nib.

 

Which nib material you have?

Steel, titanium or gold?

[OmegaMountain]

I have a Minimalistica in a medium titanium. I have no issues with the push cap, but I use it for work in the field and like a simpler cap for that. I also don't care about it not having a separate section because the filling system doesn't require it. The shape of the barrel makes it a very comfortable writer for me. The titanium nib is buttery smooth, but it's a very wet writer.

[mauckcg]

You are right!

I love threaded caps.

I am leaning toward the regular...

 

What do you think of titanium nib from them?

The nib material isn't quite as important as you would think. They have a guy there, Johan who tunes each nib and can custom grind them for you too. I have a custom ground extra fine titanium and fine titanium for my Regular. Both nibs are excellent and two of my favorites.

[tgoto]

I have a Minimalistica in a medium titanium. I have no issues with the push cap, but I use it for work in the field and like a simpler cap for that. I also don't care about it not having a separate section because the filling system doesn't require it. The shape of the barrel makes it a very comfortable writer for me. The titanium nib is buttery smooth, but it's a very wet writer.

Does the push cap seal pretty well?

I spend half of my time in the office redlining drawings but spend the rest at the field (construction sites).

Quick draw of the pen is attractive but I don't want to stain my shirt... ;p

[tgoto]

The nib material isn't quite as important as you would think. They have a guy there, Johan who tunes each nib and can custom grind them for you too. I have a custom ground extra fine titanium and fine titanium for my Regular. Both nibs are excellent and two of my favorites.

Great to hear that!

I was thinking of titanium fine

[mauckcg]

Great to hear that!

I was thinking of titanium fine

The titanium fine on my Regular is buttery smooth, on the wet side for flow, and a bit on the wide side. The titanium is a bit springy, with some pressure you can get a little bit of line variation. All in all, a superb nib and one that spends most of it's time on the Regular.

[OmegaMountain]

Does the push cap seal pretty well?

I spend half of my time in the office redlining drawings but spend the rest at the field (construction sites).

Quick draw of the pen is attractive but I don't want to stain my shirt... ;p

 

The push cap seals quite well - it uses an o-ring to friction seal to the barrel. It's a good, tight fit. I have the demonstrator barrel with the delrin cap. I wonder if the delrin will have issues with expansion over time, but the cap would just sit lower even if it did and the sealing o-ring in the cap is replaceable. I don't usually put the pen in my shirt pocket, but I do carry it in a Franklin-Christoph pen pouch in the zippered breast pocket of my uniform sweater and it has never leaked into that pouch. If you're looking for something to put into a shirt pocket though, the regular may be a better bet, but I don't feel like I would have any problems if I clipped the pen directly into my shirt pocket. It has never leaked excessive ink into the cap either - only the minuscule amounts associate with jostling, etc. which I clean out with a cotton swab infrequently. I love the feel of the titanium nib, but as I and others have noted they write quite wet. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with fine or even fine ground to extra fine instead of the medium, but the fine titanium was, admittedly, sold out at the time I placed my order. I will likely order a fine or extra fine titanium replacement nib for it in the future.

Edited March 5, 2017 by OmegaMountain

[tgoto]

The push cap seals quite well - it uses an o-ring to friction seal to the barrel. It's a good, tight fit. I have the demonstrator barrel with the delrin cap. I wonder if the delrin will have issues with expansion over time, but the cap would just sit lower even if it did and the sealing o-ring in the cap is replaceable. I don't usually put the pen in my shirt pocket, but I do carry it in a Franklin-Christoph pen pouch in the zippered breast pocket of my uniform sweater and it has never leaked into that pouch. If you're looking for something to put into a shirt pocket though, the regular may be a better bet, but I don't feel like I would have any problems if I clipped the pen directly into my shirt pocket. It has never leaked excessive ink into the cap either - only the minuscule amounts associate with jostling, etc. which I clean out with a cotton swab infrequently. I love the feel of the titanium nib, but as I and others have noted they write quite wet. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with fine or even fine ground to extra fine instead of the medium, but the fine titanium was, admittedly, sold out at the time I placed my order. I will likely order a fine or extra fine titanium replacement nib for it in the future.

Thank you for letting me know your experience!

 

It's funny that I am back to square one.

Both minimalistica and regular are great pens and I don't know which I one I should get

At this price level of pens, $100 difference is not a major factor to choose either one.

 

I am going to have a hard time choosing (actually a fun time)!

[sketchstack]

I have several Conid, with Minimalistica being my newest.

 

I'll write up a more detailed comparison of the Regular and Minimalistica eventually. But from a writing-experience standpoint, the Minimalistica is my preference of the two.

 

This preference is almost solely because the Regular section tapers and my large hands sometimes can't find a comfortable place to sit. Whereas the Minimalistica is critically just slightly larger in diameter (both the section and the barrel) and that makes an enormous differences as to which one I decide to write with. It's amazing the difference in feel between the two pens. I was quite surprised. I find my grip can travel and up down the Minimalista section ever so slightly due to the lack of threads. There's no "correct" place to hold the Minimalistica.

 

The Regular is a beautiful instrument and you'd likely love it, but from a comfort (and therefore usability) standpoint I'm sold on the Minimalistica when choosing between the two.

 

And the nibs are all great, though I think titanium is a good value in the sense that it's half the cost of gold and you still get a nice springy writing experience. Regardless, I recommend grabbing each of the steel nibs since they're inexpensive and it's great to have extra nibs lying around. And then you don't have to wonder "should I have gotten a medium instead of a fine?" etc.

 

Best of luck.

[gylyf]

Thank you for your input!

I think I want to go for regular with fine nib.

Which nib material you have?

Steel, titanium or gold?

Sorry for the very late reply! I have steel and titanium nibs from Conid, and I'm also using a Bock palladium nib in my Minimalistica. The steel nibs are OK, but very boring. The titanium nib (a F) is lovely: quite wet, with pleasant feedback so that I always feel like I'm in control. The palladium nib is a revelation: not as springy as the Ti but more springy than gold, and a lot of fun to use.

[stephanos]

I have tried the Minimalistica and the Kingsize, with titanium and gold nibs, respectively. I have to say, I really like them both. I haven't tried the Regular or the steel nib.

 

In your position, given the little information available, I would go with the Minimalistica (assuming you're still trying to make a decision). Why?

Three reasons.

 

First, the cap (twist very slightly as you cap and uncap)

Second, the pen is quite light

Third, price. Conids are not cheap, and the Minimalistica is an excellent introduction to the brand.

[tgoto]

You guys are not helping at all....Now I want them all!

Thank you all for your insight.

I like it that minimalist is light-weighted.

 

Good thing I waited a little bit before ordering.

I will have fun re-looking at all of the pens! (I'm such a nerd aren't I?)

[sketchstack]

I have some Conid videos on my website (in my signature) that might be interesting to you or anyone looking into Conid.

 

Most recently I posted some Minimalistica videos:

 

https://youtu.be/5gQ6PvjIp8E

 

https://youtu.be/QtyXiKBmuHc

[sketchstack]

Sorry for the very late reply! I have steel and titanium nibs from Conid, and I'm also using a Bock palladium nib in my Minimalistica. The steel nibs are OK, but very boring. The titanium nib (a F) is lovely: quite wet, with pleasant feedback so that I always feel like I'm in control. The palladium nib is a revelation: not as springy as the Ti but more springy than gold, and a lot of fun to use.

 

I was wondering about that palladium nib. I couldn't quite bring myself to spend the money since I already have a gold Bock. But if it's anything like the Visconti Dreamtouch nib then I can only imagine how nice it is to write with.