Lamy Logo--Stainless Steel

January 29, 2009

I haven't seen this Lamy model get much attention, so I though a review might be good. I picked up a Logo last year in a department store in Germany, where it was crowded amongst what seemed like a vast selection of Lamy pens, and have been pleased with it. It's become my everyday writer, in fact,.

First Impressions (8/10)

If memory serves the pen came with no more than a clear plastic bag.

Appearance & Design (9/10)

The bare bones presentation fits the style of the Logo, plain even by Lamy standards. "Minimalist" barely does justice to the severe functionality of the pen. At first glance it resembles nothing so much as an elongated can of tomatoes. The tubular stainless steel, less shiny than in the photograph, is austere, but then this is a workaday pen, with the charms of a workaday item. The pen is solidly and precisely put together, so that apart from the clip, which seems a bit flimsy, it does not feel cheap. Not a bling item certainly, but not disposable either. It feels like it will last a good few years of constant use.

Snap-on cap that closes and posts securely (although I don't post).

Weight & Dimensions (9/10)

The Logo is thinner than most Lamy pens, but it has (for me) a crucial difference from the other "reduced girth" pens (cp1, alu ): the barrel is flush with the nib section (see photo). This makes all the difference. I have an alu which I'm fond of, but which is sharpish where the barrel meets the section, and which after a while gets uncomfortable. This trouble is gone with the Logo, and the section is non-slippy and comfortable steel. It's a light pen, relatively short at about 116mm from barrel to nib-end, diameter 10mm-ish. It's perfectly balanced, at least unposted, so I can (and do) write for hours with this thing with no fatigue or handache. The only problem I've encountered is that the barrel sometimes unthreads a bit when I'm writing, but that's infrequent and easily resolved

Nib & Performance (9/10) –

The Logo takes the standard Lamy detachable nib–glassy, dry, crisp. I chose the Logo partly because I wanted an alternative to the faceted nib section of the Safari line, which does not fit my grip, while still having a low-cost pen featuring this nib. The Logo is c/c (hurrah!) and I'm currently using Lamy's beautiful blue-black to good effect. The nib starts every time, doesn't dry out and will write effortlessly on any conceivable paper in the known universe.

Cost & Value (10/10) –

I believe I paid 20 Euro–maybe 25. Lamy MSRP is $40 for the stainless steel, $50 for the brushed stainless steel, which is a bit smarter. It's probably available cheaper, but the Logo FP is not as widely available as some other models. Considering how well the pen is put together, and how much I like the functional style, it was a great purchase. It's a solid pen, without the school pen feel of the Safari, uncheap-feeling like the Kultur can be.

Conclusion (Final score, 6/6)

Every time I find a pen I like at a reasonable price I want to get a couple more just in case. That's certainly the case here. If you like the Lamy nib but want an alternative to the Safariesque, or if you just want a good reliable straightforward pen at reasonable price, or if you like a pen where form really does follow function, the Logo might just be it, as they say.

kind regards

eric

Edited January 29, 2009 by ericthered2004

January 29, 2009

Thanks for the review and pic. I've been interested in this pen, but have never seen one in person. Something in my foggy recollection tells me that although it uses Safari nibs, it uses a different converter. Is this right?

Doug

January 29, 2009

Thanks for the review and pic. I've been interested in this pen, but have never seen one in person. Something in my foggy recollection tells me that although it uses Safari nibs, it uses a different converter. Is this right?

Doug

Right, it uses the Z26, whereas the Safari uses the Z24. Not sure what the difference is. Sorry the photo is not the best. I'll try and get more, if not better, ones up at some point.

regards

eric

Edited January 29, 2009 by ericthered2004

January 29, 2009

If you like the Logo take a look at the CP1 as well it's quite similar.

January 29, 2009

I very much agree with your review.

These are two Logos available:

A full stainless with brushed surface, which I bought myself

http://www.lamy.com/productFragments/e34/e45/e313/06_gross_ger.jpg

And the one you tested, made with the black cap insert

http://www.lamy.com/productFragments/e34/e45/e307/05_gross_ger.jpg

Actually the clip is spring loaded.

January 29, 2009

Excellent review. I just got one off fleabay and I agree with everything you've said about the pen. (except the comparisons to the cp1 which I do not own).

Cedar

January 29, 2009

If you like the Logo take a look at the CP1 as well it's quite similar.

The CP1 is slimmer and heavier than the Logo.

January 29, 2009

Thanks for the review! I am a great fan of the Logo, having initially bought mine only because I wanted a Lamy that would fit in the pen loop of my Filofax. I write with mine every day and love the fact that it looks a bit more distinguished than the Safaris.

February 2, 2009

Too think for my taste but I agree the nibs are great. Is a great pen, solid and well designed, as most Lamy. Thanks for the review.

February 2, 2009

thanks for the review, I have a Lamy Logo and CP1 in my wish list...

February 3, 2009

Funny, when you said that the Logo doesn't get much attention, I thought to myself "What? Of course it does..." and then came to find that there's no entry in the review index! The Logo, CP1, and 58 all look very much the same, with just minor cosmetic and material differences. I've held the CP1 and don't care much for it, as I find it a little too heavy for its size. But the Logo is a good and inexpensive reliable pen, with a little more substantial feel than a Safari/Vista.

What's the second pen you show in the photo, Eric? The clip is a dead giveaway that it isn't a Logo, nor CP1. And yet very similar shape/design. :hmm1:

Edited February 4, 2009 by MYU

February 5, 2009

Funny, when you said that the Logo doesn't get much attention, I thought to myself "What? Of course it does..." and then came to find that there's no entry in the review index! The Logo, CP1, and 58 all look very much the same, with just minor cosmetic and material differences. I've held the CP1 and don't care much for it, as I find it a little too heavy for its size. But the Logo is a good and inexpensive reliable pen, with a little more substantial feel than a Safari/Vista.

What's the second pen you show in the photo, Eric? The clip is a dead giveaway that it isn't a Logo, nor CP1. And yet very similar shape/design. :hmm1:

The second pen is the alu. It's similar to the cp1 obviously, but from everyone's comments I would guess it's lighter.

regards

eric

Edited February 5, 2009 by ericthered2004