Parson's Essential Vs. Pelikan M200

[rbeef]

My question is not which one is better, because that's obviously subjective. I have an Italix Parson's Essential for more than two years and I'm still enthusiastic about it, although I'm not using it daily, but I try to, with every occasion. The writing experience is absolutely fantastic.

 

I wonder if, as a n00b, I'll feel any difference if I'd use a Pelikan M200, compared to Italix Parson's Essential. Pelikan is a little bit more expensive, but I like to looks of it and it has some good reviews. Parson's Essential gives a smooth feeling when touching the paper and I wonder if a Pelikan M200 would top that (I'm also considering having the M400 nib upgrade).

 

Anyone around here have both pens and could tell me if M200 would be smoother?

[Ste_S]

I don't have a Parson's Essential, but I do have a Pelikan M200 amongst many other pens.

 

You will notice a difference - it's a different size for a start. It's also a piston filler as opposed to the c/c of the Italix. Pelikan finishes tend to be more conservative, and I would tend towards one of the demo versions in the M2xx range.

 

As for nibs... I've found most modern steel nibbed pens to be roughly equivalently smooth. Where noticeable smoothness differences happen is in the wetness and flow of pens, and the lubrication and flow of the ink.

In that regard Pelikan pens tend to be wet by default, the M200 Broad I have is probably the wettest pen I own. The cheap Pelikan Twist being no slouch in that regard either

[cleosmama]

I have both, and they are completely different writing experiences. They are both smooth writers, but the M200, like Ste-S says, is a smaller pen with a smaller grip section. It is much lighter, too, than the Parson's. They are both wet writers in my judgment, though I do feel more feedback with the M200 than the Parson's. Compared to the M200, the Parson's has a more solid feel; the Pelikan is really very light plastic where the Parson's is pretty solid feeling.

[Danny Kaffee]

If you choose the M200, don't waste the money with a gold nib. The gold-plated steel nib is excellent, and in many ways is better than the gold nib. It's got more spring and life.

 

My M200 (medium) is silky smooth and I'm a finicky pen user. Although the medium nib is a touch broader than most mediums I've used.

 

My only complaint with the M200 is that the threads are where my middle finger normally holds the pen.

Edited March 28, 2015 by Danny Kaffee

[rbeef]

Thanks for your replies, this kinda settles it for me. I think I'm better of without spending money on a M200, since i like heavy pens better than light, plastic ones. So maybe the next on my list would be a Churchman's Prescriptor.

[FountainPages]

I have both and while both are nice pens, I don't see all the fuss about the Italix. It is heavy and a good pen but far from the be all, end all of fountain pens. Yes, it is smooth but many nibs are smooth. Yes, it is handworked but many are. The Italix are no better than many others.

[jkingrph]

I have both and will say in black one is as conservative as the other. As for writing both are very good, nice and wet. The Parsons Essential offers a greater choice of nibs, italic , stub, cursive, ect for a total of 18 nib choices, compared to 4 for the Pelikan. The Pelikan is constructed of plastic and is very lightweight whereas the Parsons is made of lacquered brass and feels much more substantial in the hand. The traditional Pelican is a piston feed, although they are now offering a cartridge;/convertor model, the Parsons is cartridge/convertor only. The Parsons is available in solid black, burgundy, green, and a mottled amber and blue model, with matching rollerbals and ballpoints in most colors.

 

Pelikans website shows 8 colors, but there are others available, I just got one in café crème, a beige/coffee brown color, and I just saw a cognac( clear amber) demonstrator,and there are probably others out that I did not see while writing this.

 

You will not go wrong with either.

 

[Bemo]

I have the Italix and 4 m200's. I prefer the Pelikan overall, however, I have had one steel nib that was pretty rough. The benefit of the Italix is you're assured that the nib will be good. But I believe I have 10 Pelikan's and only 1 Italix.

[rbeef]

I have both and while both are nice pens, I don't see all the fuss about the Italix. It is heavy and a good pen but far from the be all, end all of fountain pens. Yes, it is smooth but many nibs are smooth. Yes, it is handworked but many are. The Italix are no better than many others.

 

It's cheap, compared with other pens that look/behave the same.