Zoom 101 Carbon Fiber Fountain Pen

[doggonecarl]

First off, the picture I uploaded does not do the Tombow Zoom 101 justice. The pen is flawlessly constructed from carbon and Duralumin. The look is modern and industrial, which is what first attacted me to the pen. Because of the materials, the Zoom is super light but strong. It's slender, but not quite as slim as the Lamy CP1.

 

Missing from the photo is the depth the fibers adds to the finish. What I also discovered about the material, the carbon fiber, is how tactile it makes the pen. Like the Makrolon-constructed Lamy 2000, the Zoom 101 begs to be held and fondled.

 

The nib is smooth and lays down a even, uninterrupted line. I ordered a fine, but find it writes more like a Western fine, meaning a little wider than expected. The Zoom is a cartridge/converter pen, which I have no problem with. I didn't order the converter. I believe a long international cartridge, such as Pelikan's, will fit and provide more than enough ink.

[Uncle Red]

congrats on the new pen, it looks like it has a sprung clip like the Lamy 2000 too.

[doggonecarl]

...it looks like it has a sprung clip like the Lamy 2000 too.

 

Yes, and on the CP1 as well. Indeed, the Zoom seems to be heavily influenced by Lamy.

[mhphoto]

Congrats on a beautiful pen! I've always lusted after the CF 101. I have a CF Sheaffer Intensity, but the 101 just looks so much more refined.

[mhphoto]

Congrats on a beautiful pen! I've always lusted after the CF 101. I have a CF Sheaffer Intensity, but the 101 just looks so much more refined.

[BrettR]

Beautiful looking pen!

 

I am glad you made reference to the CP1, reason being is that I hope to buy a Tombow Zoom 101 to go alongside my CP1

[doggonecarl]

Beautiful looking pen!

 

I am glad you made reference to the CP1, reason being is that I hope to buy a Tombow Zoom 101 to go alongside my CP1

 

I should do one of those side-by-side comparisons I see in Pen Review forum, but I'd want to get my hands on a better camera first. If you have the CP1 I think you will appreciate the similarities between it and the Zoom, but with the Zoom the better made pen.

Edited February 27, 2013 by doggonecarl

[BrettR]

Beautiful looking pen!

 

I am glad you made reference to the CP1, reason being is that I hope to buy a Tombow Zoom 101 to go alongside my CP1

 

I should do one of those side-by-side comparisons I see in Pen Review forum, but I'd want to get my hands on a better camera first. If you have the CP1 I think you will appreciate the similarities between it and the Zoom, but with the Zoom the better made pen.

 

Is the lightness of the pen a pro or con for you? I have tried the pen at a local store, but as we all know, writing in a store versus writing casually are two completely different scenarios. The lightness just blew me away, and I can't decide if I liked that or not

[doggonecarl]

Is the lightness of the pen a pro or con for you? I have tried the pen at a local store, but as we all know, writing in a store versus writing casually are two completely different scenarios. The lightness just blew me away, and I can't decide if I liked that or not

 

I heard it was light, but was not prepared for just how light it was. I lean towards pens with a little more "heft" to them. But I haven't had an issue with writing with the Zoom. I just have to keep telling myself, don't grip it so hard.

 

I think the thing that has taken getting used to is just how little pressure you have to apply to lay down a line. Like nothing. The barest touch of the nib to paper and you are writing.

 

That being said, I haven't done any substantial writing with the Zoom. By "substantial" I mean pages and pages of writing at one sitting. But for a single page or less, it's been a joy to use.

 

And it sure doesn't pull down my shirt pocket like my Jinhao 159 does.

 

BrettR, what's the lightest pen in your collection?

[MCN]

I'd be interested in knowing how you hold the pen, given its somewhat unusual grip section. Do you actually hold it there or do you use the barrel?

[BrettR]

BrettR, what's the lightest pen in your collection?

 

I would probably have to say my Kaweco Lilliput. First fountain pen I ever bought.

[doggonecarl]

I'd be interested in knowing how you hold the pen, given its somewhat unusual grip section. Do you actually hold it there or do you use the barrel?

 

You are right. It is a very short section. My fingers don't slip and land on the nib, if that's what you are wondering. I pretty much hold the pen the same as I hold any pen that allows you the freedom to hold it any way you want (excluding the Safari and a few other pens), which means my index finger is on the section.

 

But who's to say I'm even holding it correctly?

 

The marked "steps" in the section could be a problem for extended writing with a death grip. A light grip is essential. I have tried holding the pen further up the barrel, with success. The section is short enough that I'm not drastically changing how the pen feels in my hand. With the cap posted, holding the barrel works. Unposted, the pen is 4.75 inches long. Not a whole lot of room before you run out of pen. Unless you have little hands.

 

As far as short sections go, and how you grip them. My Hero 395 has a narrow section as well, but for whatever reason, it bothers me more than the section on the Zoom.

 

Hope I answered your question.

[doggonecarl]

BrettR, what's the lightest pen in your collection?

 

I would probably have to say my Kaweco Lilliput. First fountain pen I ever bought.

 

Then I wouldn't think the lightness of the Zoom would bother you. I meant to compare the Zoom to the CP1, since you mentioned having one and liking it. Perhaps this weekend I'll remember to do that.

[doggonecarl]

The Zoom is a cartridge/converter pen, which I have no problem with. I didn't order the converter.

 

Found that the international standard converters (Pelikan, Rotring, so forth), of which I have several, fit the Zoom fine.

[BrettR]

So now that you have had the pen for a couple weeks, has your opinion about it changed at all?

[doggonecarl]

So now that you have had the pen for a couple weeks, has your opinion about it changed at all?

 

Not at all. It may even be higher. What an amazingly well crafted pen. I've run two inks through it, Pelikan 4001 Brillant Black and Noodler's Upper Ganges Blue. The pen reacted a little differently to each in. I bought Mont Blanc Midnight Blue in the cartridge to try in the Zoom but took it out of rotation and put the MB in a Jinhao 159.

 

I'll probably load the Zoom next, using the converter, with either Noodler's Black or Pilot Blue.

 

If I had to find something negative to say, it would be about the nib. Not how it writes, which is fantastic, but the line width. I got the fine and it writes (especially with Upper Ganges Blue) closer to a medium. I had slightly different expectations. You alway hear that Japanese Fines are "finer" than western nibs, but that is a generalization.