Thanks for mentioning Affinity. It’s nice to know there are other options than just the top dogs. Just took a quick look and I am very happy that they allow a one-time purchase option. I may consider them. Adobe has just gotten really expensive and since I’m not a professional graphic artist I can’t justify it. I am assuming if I do get the Affinity apps that there will be tutorials somewhere? That would really help me if I do get around to getting them and learning them. I can muck around with basic apps but I’m sure it would be very handy to learn these, as I do like to do design things and also I have tons of photos to edit.
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Adobe creative software prices have gone out of control! In the past I have missed the deadline to cancel an annual subscription and then you are not allowed to cancel it in between until end of the year. Also recently like with everything else you dont really own a version of the software thus requiring to pay the cloud based-versions only. It became such a burden for me that in 2023 I decided to cancel my personal creative cloud acc. I consider myself lucky that work allows me various software licenses but for own use, affinity is one of my options going ahead. Sorry about the rant.
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You have every right to be irate. It does seem that Adobe has gotten famous and now is getting greedier and greedier. They won’t even let you make a one-time purchase anymore. Pretty sad. I’m glad to hear about Affinity. It seems like a much more affordable route. When I get the time I may explore it more.
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Yes – there is a comprehensive online help, the Affinity Photo YouTube channel and many resources from users.
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That’s great to know, Gunther. Thank you! When the budget is there, I have a good plan to get these affordable apps and learn how to use them. Looks like Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer would be good to consider. I love to mess with graphics and photos, so it would be valuable to have them under my belt. I’m assuming they can do much of what Adobe products can do, and the things they can’t do are likely beyond my scope anyway.
BTW, with respect to the 925-85 REG, my 0.5 should be arriving on Saturday from Japan.
I am chuffed!
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I think they are.
Great! I will mine order soon.
Such a shame that amazon japan stopped selling to Brazil, I’ll have to use a proxy to buy mine. Enjoy yours!
You can email Bundoki.com in English and I think they will facilitate the sale and shipment, I think.
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I just got my 925 85-05 REG today from Japan. It’s beautiful! Really nicely designed and feels great in the hand. Wonderful balance, and all those knobs and adjustments. I have never held the original version but I’m guessing this is very, very similar. Perhaps improved, in some ways. I read the original had more rattle. This one is smooth! Only wish they’d make a 0.7mm but not gonna happen. Really nice and the price in Japan is quite reasonable.
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I just got mine in today and it is essentially the original with SLIGHTLY different print on it and they’ve fixed the “rattle”
I’m not disappointed in this revelation, but I can say that unless you can buy the original cheaper than this one…. DON’T BUY THE ORIGINAL!!
This will absolutely devalue the original imho because it’s the same. The mechanism (what I could see) is the same. I do think the spring is just a smidgen different.
I will still buy the 0.3 and so forth if I can, but I wouldn’t concern myself with hoarding the originals because they are not worth it.
If you truly liked the original then you will LOVE this one.
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Nice to hear that, thanks.
I have the 925-85 in 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm, and hadn’t gotten around to getting the 0.5 mm. So it’s a no-brainer to order the new one. I got a good deal on mine from Rakuma while ZenMarket had a 10% sale going on (LINK). Plus with free shipping (in Japan)… saved about $8 USD.
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For someone who has not held the original to compare it to, I am very happy with the new 925 85-05 and your positive critique is good news. The design, fit and finish are all excellent.
I realize that anyone who held onto the originals hoping to turn a profit now will probably not be so happy. However, the market for 925 85-07 (only produced with the original series) should still be strong because the 0.7mm was not re-released.
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Glad you already have the 0.7 mm, which as you know, is not going to be re-released. Just checked that Rakuten Rakuma link and the item is Sold Out at this moment. I’m assuming if you ordered one that you needed a proxy buyer to get it sent overseas, correct? Unless you live in Japan.
Just looked at Amazon Japan and it’s only $21 plus $17 shipping to USA. Very convenient and a good price if you live in the States.
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That is my hope with the 95 (imagine a black version) and Micromatic, nothing better than Staedtler re-releasing some models to allow everyone to buy again (and putting some scalpers out of the market in doing so). My hope is that other brands (Pentel, I’m looking at you) starts doing it also, because Staedtler is showing that the market welcomes it.
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I wonder if American Kinokuniya stores will be getting these. But even if that happens, I have zero confidence my local Austin Kinokuniya will get any, as their stationery section has dwindled away to almost nothing of interest over the past 4 years.
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Today mine has arrived.
(Top: old, bottom: new)
Differences:
- The marking is blacker, the font used for “REG” is different
- The button protrudes about one millimetre less
- The new one is a little lighter (22.5 g vs. 23.4 g)
- The regulator mechanism now works much more smoothly and without annoying creaking
- No more rattling, as the tube below the knob has a circumferential bead that fills the gap and thus minimises radial play
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Got mine yesterday. It’s fab!
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So I want to provide an update on my experience with the new 925-85. I compared mine to a vintage 925-85 0.7 mm and 0.3 mm.
- Button protrusion is about the same.
- The new one is slightly heavier by about 0.1 gram. The cause appears to be the nose cone part.
- The regulator mechanism is definitely smoother. Also, it seems more “contained.” When I disassembled the pencils, the old regulator was wildly loose. The new one remained more steady.
- The new one is more quiet with the click lead advance mechanism.
- The new one is virtually rattle free (you can make it rattle just a tiny bit), while the old one is a bit of a rattler.
- The new one feels “tighter” and I don’t know if that’s because my two vintage examples have had some use over the years (but they’re in very good cosmetic shape).
All in all… there’s really no need to buy vintage, especially since the vintage wasn’t discontinued all that long ago (not like multiple decades), except of course if you want 0.3 or 0.7 mm sizes.
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