Rotring 800 Drafting Pencil - 0.5 mm - Silver Body

One of the gripes that people have with the Rotring 600 drafting pencil is that it doesn't have a retractable lead sleeve. They are right. The Rotring 600 doesn't have this capability. So, If you choose the 800, you won't get a hole in your good dress shirt. And, you won't feel that the pencil is stuck in your pants pocket, when you are trying to pull it out. The Rotring 800 mechanical pencil does have this slick capability. So, this is a definite plus for some. I bought both the black and silver versions of the Rotring 800 drafting pencil. And, when they arrived here, I compared them with the 600 drafting pencils.


Let me tell you that I really like the 800 series pencils. I know, from my research, that they are no 'newer' than the Japanese 600 pencils.

But, I must say that the 800 series pencil, with the GREAT added capability of retracting the lead sleeve, does not quite match up to its 600 series cousin.

Here is the reason:

Somehow, the Rotring 600 drafting mechanical pencil feels like a solid, through-and-through piece of advanced engineering. It just feels so good in your hand--like an ergonomic block of metal with lead at your use. This piece of engineering beckons for you to handle it and write with it. But, maybe unfortunately, the 800 drafting pencil does not achieve this high mark. This pencil acquaints you with springs and plastic pressure-fits. The 800 brings you back to the purgatory between the sublime Rotring 600 the less great pencils, the ones that are plastic and bouncy in use.

Also, maybe my work-shirt pockets are deeper than everyone else, but my Rotring 600 pencils aren't long enough to puncture my shirt pockets, when they are stowed with the clip.

I definitely like my new, expensive Rotring 800 drafting mechanical pencils, but they don't quite match up to the Japanese Rotring 600 drafting mechanical pencil line---imho.

This is my first Rotring pencil. Between me and my husband, we have a number of Rotring art pens and rapidographs, but this drafting pencil was a first.

Initially I was hesitant to make the purchase due to the price, but in looking at the retractable tip (by turning the screw near the clicker) and the solid construction, I decided to give it a shot.

Admittedly, the screw open mechanism takes a little getting used to. The clicker will not depress if the tip is retracted -- a nice safety mechanism. I need to remind myself to retract the tip when I put my pencil away.

I do a lot of work with colored lead and I've gone through numerous pencils that break (and subsequently waste) my lead. This pencil has done an excellent job thus far.

Is it worth the price? It's hard to say. I'm a stickler for quality in the tools I use regularly. I have a Lamy Scribble 0.7 pencil which I equally love, so I'm not going to say this is a pencil for everyone, but I do recommend it for drafting pencil aficionados!

I recently received this highly anticipated pencil. I spent enough time evaluating it to conclude that not everyone will be able to notice or appreciate its built/quality. For starters, it looks rather simple. This is not some fancy multi-dimensional writing gear. And it doesn't have to be. Rotring formula for success isn't based on marketing hype. Once you start using it, it will become a natural extension of you. Its perfect balance and solid grip offer extended use without feeling tired. Its recessed design not only prevents the puncturing your shirt's pockets but also a possibility of bending the tip. I only wish they made the 0.35mm version!

i do not get the difference between the rotring 800 and the rotring 500, they both have similar features, and being an owner of both pencils, i literally can not tel the difference. if i could do it over again, i would just buy the 500 instead of the 800 because of the price

For all you cheap #2 pencil pushers - please don't waste your time and go elswhere before dropping down your too hard earned $$$ on this fine writing instrument. Poor reviews come from those dissapointed geniuses whose expectations are never met in life.

Now that I said it, this is my 2nd #800. Worth every penny. Flawlessly executed, extremely comfortable, perfectly balanced - almost natural - extension of your hand. Give it a try and you will fall in love with it.