Tombow Variable SH-1500VP (video review & demo)

Here is my latest video. It’s currently unpublished. I still need to edit the closed captions but aside from that it’s ready.

I’ll make it public later (after work) after I get the captions uploaded

Also wanted to thank Kelvin @drifand for letting me use his pictures! My specimen is not so great :expressionless:

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I just know I’ll get ripped for either not having seals on all 3 of them, or for not removing the seal on the 0.5 :joy:

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I’m glad you didn’t.
Mine was so faded. You can’t even read it.

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Perfect video!

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thanks!

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Looks great, Patrick!

This is a series that was long overdue for an in-depth examination. I love your attention to detail and the timber of your voice adds a very nice quality too.

I’d long contemplated getting one… only one, as all 3 was a bigger investment than I wanted to do. Instead, I went for the LP. In hindsight, I wish I’d gotten over my hesitance. These are really beautifully made mechanical pencils.

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Awesome job dude! I’ve always wondered about this model but have never bought one and now I know so much more about it! Totally echo everything Gary said.

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Thank you! I really appreciate that.

I always wanted one, but was having trouble justling the mint/NOS cost - so I ended up with this “well loved” one instead. It is a very well made pencil IMO - probably worth the $$ for better specimens in the long run.

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Thanks Heath! It really is comforting that serious collectors like you guys are enjoying the videos, and getting some value from it.

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Rad video. Love it. And was especially happy to hear you repeating that it has a solid and premium feel. Was not sure about that prior to the video.

You can count on me to be that guy who points out tiny edits to help the final version be the best it can be. So annoying, I know. Especially since I am prone to so many errors myself.

Toward the beginning, there is some audio smudging of the word millimeter at around 2:41.

At around 2:46, you say there is a tolerance of 1mm but I believe you mean 0.1mm.

When you discuss the travel of the knock, at 5:10 and 5:33 you say the knock traveled 143.xx millimeters. I guess another way you could say it is ‘When knocked at maximum lead dispensing setting, the overall length is X.’

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I was able to correct the 1/.1mm mistake in the subtitles.
Thanks for pointing those out! I’m supposed to be making it public tomorrow so I’ll need to see if I have time to correct and export it.
(I’ve been having hardware performance issues)

I need to figure out a way to post it here in time enough for vetting and corrections

Edit: I really need to invest in a new PC or Mac.
Right now I’m kind of flying blind.
Even with all the performance tweaks, proxy files, and playback resolution all the way down, I still have lags. So I can’t really “see” what I’m doing until I export, and that took about 2.5+ hours for this 12 min video. Throw in am practically deaf in one ear. This is definitely not a professional organization :laughing:

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I am amazed at what you are doing. The amount of editing required is beyond belief. Especially with a low tech setup.

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I find this is much harder to do than investing in mechanical pencils.

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It’s been seriously neglected.

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Dude… :clap::clap::clap:

When I first opened your VARIABLE vid, I thought you had accomplished the Turkey when it came to all three Variables. I thought “what a well hidden accomplishment/surprise……:clap: ……

Though-unfortunately- that hasn’t occurred yet.
….(and we are still even this far :sweat_smile:

I AM still captivated and surprised by each stage of your videos. Which are SO thoroughly comprised of information, I couldn’t begin to critique…(unless when you discuss the cap. It goes over and around the knock button instead of becoming ‘one’ with it, as most others do.). Only an Asshole would go THAT far. Also, I may have misheard, so please forgive if I erred,

I too have the 0.5mm. It’s strange though, every 0.3/0.4mm I come across has something either vital(ly) missing, or is simply broken and being sold as is/parts…It’s a frustrating, yet seemingly’ “FAIR” way for the universe to chuckle at us seemingly forever internet yardage divers :sweat_smile::rofl::sleepy::joy:

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Thanks for this video on the Variable, @Pdunc67; I agree that the feeling is premium, but sometimes I find the abrupt discontinuities in the tapering from top to tail a bit too extreme; also, the grip area is quite far from the writing end, so while it works magically as a drafter, its use as a writer is suboptimal.

The idea of the hollow cap is genius, and I regret that not many pencilmakers came with a similar solution to solve brilliantly a tiny nuisance.

If only the 0.4mm specimens were not that ridiculously expensive!

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Yeah, I think the other 2 may be out of reach for me right now. I’m really glad you liked the video!
Thanks for watching it

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I’m glad you liked it. Thank you for watching. I read somewhere when making it that they made less of the 0.3 and 0.4. That combined with a short production time makes them super expensive today :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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It’s a cool pencil but overpriced on the used marketplace. Ultimately I’ve enjoyed the idea of the pencil and the aesthetics of it much more than actually using it.

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Couldn’t agree more. When I’ve used it I’ve been afraid it will somehow fall apart :sweat_smile:. It might not be its’ fault, but my own. Idk.

The Staedtler 925-95 on the other hand- I believe- is the best “Variable-esque” MP there is. Zero fear when using it. I was in love the moment it arrived… (Even over Ohto’s Conception, Super Promechas- Promechas etc.)

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