OHTO Super Promecha Drafting Pencil, 0.4mm (PM-1504P)

I got the OHTO because Amazon reviews about other mechanical pencils called it out as being the far superior and I wanted a reliable retractable. So far I've found its lead handling on par with the two other brands I purchased around the same time. It is extremely techy looking and probably has many features I'll eventually stumble upon by accident. If I'm remembering correctly, the directions are in a foreign language. I wouldn't have read them even if they'd been in English so that didn't affect my rating. The lead conveniently retracts when you depress the top and gently push it back into the barrel. The body is very lightweight, which is surprising given its looks but I've tossed it around like a cheap pencil and it shows no dings, dents or scratches. The five stars are for it matching the weight of a pencil while including the perfect grip. The grip size and texture guarantee fatigue-free long writing sessions.

Upon opening the box I was blown away with the styling of this pencil. The small picture does not do it justice. The finger grip is weighted so that you can naturally hold the pencil orthogonal to the paper for near perfect lines. The lead dispensing mechanism is push button, but works well, and I really like that the lead holder has adjustable length. The pencil is well balanced, and feels natural in a large adults hand. I think my new pencil and I will be proving theorems for quite a while to come.

What's not to like?! I don't get why it gets negative reviews. This pencil gets the job done while adapting to your needs. It's issues, but the pros heavily outweigh the cons. If anything, this pencil deserves better!

The fully adjustable features on this pencil make it the most expensive mechanical pencil I have ever purchased but also the most comfortable and well-balanced and to me--well worth the money. I see other reviews where some have had the lead break quite often but I don't have that problem with the one I have. When I start to break lead I switch to softer lead (HB down to B or 2B). If I'm breaking lead it means I'm applying too much pressure. With the softer lead I get a better, darker line without the extra pressure required. I also transport my pencils in a leather case so the tips don't get bent.

This pencil has a few idiosyncrasies that keep it from being great.It's heavy, which personally I like, but the weight is concentrated at the tip. I'd prefer it to be a little more evenly distributed.The knurled grip is too subtle, so there's not a lot of "grippiness" there.The adjustable lead guide pipe is an interesting feature but it only feels locked in at full extension. At intermediate lengths it feels like it could slip while writing.And the last annoying thing is the eraser cap/lead grade indicator. I prefer softer leads but the indicator goes only to "B". But I can live with that. What's really bugging me is that the cap does not fit tightly enough. No, I don't think it would ever just fall out on its own, but if you occasionally "fidget" with your writing implements, it wiggles around and that loose feeling is disturbing.I really like the way this pencil looks—there's a lot going on there—but these annoyances keep it from being #1 in my rotation.

I really like this pencil - the adjustability is very cool, and the weight is satisfying. I find the pattern on the grasping area a little too much, and the barrel just a bit wider than I'd like. But it's still awesome, and it gets lots of comments from my colleagues.

When I saw this pencil 2 weeks ago and I reviewed some of the reviews I was skeptical about the quality of the item. I received the pencil today and I will say if there was a sixth star I would give it to it. The pencil is so well balanced, so easy to use, I spent 5 to 6 hours sketching with it shortly after receiving it. Some of the reviews mentioned the instructions were in Japanese and the pencil included at least 3 areas of adjustment. I can reassure you if you know how to draw you will have no problem adjusting the pencil to your style.This is an instrument that I can only describe as producing a Zen experience when using it. It fits in the hand comfortably and the weight is so well balanced you do not strain your hand or fingers using it.Not perfect however. The eraser is so small it is not practical to use, but once again if you draw often you will have either no use for an eraser or a dedicated one to use when needed.My opinion of course but If you like to draw and sketch like me buy this!

This is a beautiful mechanical pencil. It's got a nice, solid heavy feel, if you like a slightly heavier pencil. I love it. Super geeky lead adjustment which lets you control how much lead comes out in a single click - very cool. And the entire tip can retract by twisting the front barrel. Great for carrying around in your pocket. Tied with my top favorite pencil.