Lamy Pens - Safari vs Al-Star brands

Recently rediscovered enjoyment in writing with a fountain pen.

Stumbled across Lamy brand of pens, which includes fountain pens, ball point pens and rollerball pens.

Sub-brands incl some of the most favourite Lamy writing products.

I have a blue Lamy Safari fountain pen and a yellow Lamy Safari rollerball pen.
Both are light in the hand, but very smooth on the paper and not just that designed primarily for fountain pens.

Noticed another brand "Al-Star"
Seemed no difference other than increased price vs Safari brand
What seems to be distinguishing factor is make-up of the barrel

• Lamy Safari = plastic 
• Lamy Al-Star = aluminium (a bit heavier, but perhaps a little more sophisticated

The branding seems to differ a little too

• Safari brand seems in large part targeted at young kids, who are fairly new to writing and have never encountered a fountain pen, but the pens have been around for number of decades and should suit all types!
• Al-Star brand perhaps => cool sophisticates ... 

The main difference in appearance is Safari pens have a consistent colour over the barrel etc

The lower 1/3 of the Al-Star pens is black

Lamy Safari v sturdy and dependable in terms of structure and function

Would expect the same for Al-Star


For all things pen, always helpful @http://www.fieldnotesblog.com.au/2012/03/ballpoint-vs-rollerball-pens.html

Ballpoint Pen vs Rollerball Pen

Essentially

- mechanically, they are the same,  with each using a ball point mechanism


- but
-- rollerball uses a thin/watery ink - smooth; fountain pen-like on paper; vivid > ballpoint; more likely to smudge

-- ballpoint uses a more viscous/oil-based/gel-type ink - thicker lines; smudging < rollerball (dries more quickly)
---- may require more effort/pressure-on-paper from writer



For all things pen, always helpful @http://www.fieldnotesblog.com.au/2012/03/ballpoint-vs-rollerball-pens.html