I had to wait a month for this, the ohto OP-1007P is a discontinued model, for that I had to scavenge the internet then I found someone selling dead stock for 8 dollars so I bought one as for the luddite, I bought the custom barrel from amazon jp, it costed me 30 something dollars that includes shipping and customs.
Comparing the S30 and Nero, the few actually available automatic pencils, choosing between them is very difficult, and like choosing between the GG500 and Graph 1000 for Pro, you will always choose the GG1000FP instantly, as the GG500 is a bum of a pencil.
The Pilot S30 has a conical tip, the wood quality feels amazing, and the body of the S30 is like an ellipse, rounder and heavier in the middle, which makes the weight balance middle-lowish, which depends on you if you like it or not.
The Nero, on the other hand, is such a great, thoughtful pencil; the grip section is made out of metal and, most importantly, is long. The click feels so satisfying, and the build quality is so thought-out by Pentel. Despite having a plastic barrel, it doesn’t look cheap; it fits perfectly in the concept of the pencil as a simple, no-nonsense, futuristic pencil.
And lastly, the nero is lighter, and the balance and the grip are perfect.
Now, personally for me, the S30 wins in looks and aesthetics; you will be holding it just for the feel of the woodwork. But the Nero wins in functionality and writing experience. Between the two, I’d pick the Nero without hesitation.
In the end, both the S30 and Nero justify their place as great automatic pencils. The GG500, meanwhile, just exists as a reminder that we should not buy every pencil available on the market and get better pencils and ignore its existence.
The Staedtler 925 is the pencil GG500 tries to be but could never be. 925 has it all good balance , great grip , good build quality, meanwhile gg500 has none of it.
The grip on 925 is great rounded grip. It is what would you expect from staedtler. Meanwhile gg500’s grip is the only thing that makes it decent.
Build quality is where 925 really shines , the build quality is insane , it, it feels well build and smooth, meanwhile gg500 barrel quality is piss poor.
You can use 925 for long period of time and you will not notice a thing. I have used it for long 12-15 hrs of study sessions and I didn’t feel a thing meanwhile you can’t use gg500 for such long sessions as its weight balance is way off.
Overall I will say this is one of the best pencils on the market, just like the Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro. The only tiny problem is that the grip could be a little longer (it is my personal preference). Solid 4.9/5.0 (5.0/5.0 if you didn’t have my preference for longer grips)
The Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro is the forgotten middle child, dragged down by its bad PR. The first thing you notice is its weight, or rather, how light it feels. It’s incredibly lightweight without feeling cheap like gg500. The balance is great allowing you to focus completely on your work.
This balance is what makes it far superior to the Graph Gear 500. The GG500 feels awkward, In contrast, the Graph 1000 feels like the perfect pencil you can get for this price.
The grip is another standout part , It’s comfortable for extended use and doesn’t feel too rough or slippery, Compared to the GG500, which can feel bulky and strangely rough.
The build quality is excellent and doesn’t feel cheap. There’s none of that strange flex or cheap barrel you might find with the GG500. Even when I gave my friend that knows nothing about pencils , choice between graph 1000 or gg500, he chose graph 1000 over graphgear 500 immediately.
When it comes to writing or drafting, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a great lightweight pencil. The lead advancement is smooth, the tip is stable, and the experience remains consistent throughout. Unlike the GG500, which can feel off-balance, the Graph 1000 feels superior every time you pick it up.
In short, the Graph 1000 for Pro is not just good; it’s what the GG500 aspires to be. Lightweight, perfectly balanced, it creates an industry standard that every company aspires to create.
The only reason people don’t recommend graph 1000 is because of its longevity. At last we should all recommend pencils like graph 1000 for pro more and pentel should make more limited edition colours for it.
I don’t usually dislike a pencil, but the Graph Gear 500 is a real disappointment. I picked it up expecting something good, especially with all the hype, but it just doesn’t deliver.
First, the barrel quality is lackluster. It looks like it should feel premium, but in hand it feels cheap and unfinished. Holding it is not satisfying at all.
Next is the weight balance, which is the worst part. It feels off, as if all the weight is in the wrong place. Instead of feeling controlled and precise, it feels awkward and tiring to use for long periods. A drafting pencil should feel stable, not like it’s working against you.
What really frustrates me is that I wasted $10 on it. When I ordered it, I expected something good, but instead I got something that seems poorly designed.
To make matters worse, there are much better options available. The Pentel Graph 1000 feels far more refined and balanced. The Pentel P207 is simple yet incredibly reliable and comfortable. Even the Tombow Mono Graph Fine feels more polished and enjoyable to use.
Overall, the Graph Gear 500 does not live up to its reputation. It’s not unusable, but with so many better pencils out there, it feels like a miss.
I’ve been using heavy metal pencils like rr600, gg1000 continuously for few weeks . So when I picked up the Faber-Castell 2011, it was felt very light. It almost felt cheap after what I was used to.
But then I actually started writing with it , the grip is soft It’s comfortable and the triangular shape of it feels good. After some time I actually liked the feeling of writing with it.
It’s a chill everyday pencil. Nothing fancy, just works. 4/5.