2023 State of the Collection: Pens, Inks, Keyboards..Cameras?

Dear Readers,

I can’t believe that this blog has made it another year! This year has been filled with glorious, roller-coaster ups and downs. I passed both of my board exams (!), visited California, and made it through residency interviews. I can’t believe how time has flown by..it feels as if I was just starting this blog yesterday.

State of the Collection:

My pen-collecting slowed down considerably this year. From left to right:

  • Lamy 2000 <F>, Walltown Craftworks Catsburg <F>, Pilot 823 <F>, Aurora Rosa 88 Demo Rosa <M> (unfortunately, I discovered a crack in the cap—hence the washi tape).

Favorite Ink Review:

  • It was tough to pick one single ink this year! In terms of published ink reviews, I really enjoyed Scribo Grigio Scribo, a smooth blue-black ink. In terms of scheduled ink reviews…well, let’s just say that 2024 will be an exciting year!

Must-Try Ink Brand of 2023:

  • If you haven’t tried Faber Castell inks, now is the time! These inks remind me of Pilot inks: well-behaved, smooth, and beautiful to write with.

Other Hobbies/Misc:

My keyboard collecting has calmed down quite a bit. I mainly use my HHKB Type-S (Snow) which was purchased from a dear friend. The keyboard connects via bluetooth or USB-C, features silenced topre switches, and is quite fun to type on.

My relatively “new” hobby: photography! I am by no means a photographer, but I’ve cautiously dipped my toes into the water. I love documenting snapshots of daily life but wanted to use a camera instead of my phone. After many Youtube videos, I settled on the Fujifilm X-T4 and a 27mm/2.8 lens. I prefer the bokeh of the 35mm/f2.0, but the lens was slightly too big for travel.

And with that, I hope that your holidays are filled with festive cheer! Here’s to a fantastic 2024!

Pensfountainpenpharmacistfountainpen2 Comments