Which Dolls?

Hi, I found this website by chance after looking at SmartDolls and Dollfie dolls.

My question is which dolls would you say are the best to start with and why. I cant make up my mind which to buy.

Hello Knight. 

 

In my opinion good starting point are Obitsu dolls from parabox. My frist doll was 60 cm obitsu - is nice but the body itselfis not so much stunnig like Smart Dolls or Dollfies. On the other hand all models with blank head and ho accesories cost 20 000 yens. Also they have nice variety of loli types of body. They are now working on some material updates so you might wait how does it go.

Dollfie Dreams - fresh new out of the box are more expensive. On the other side you can buy Dollfie Dream  second hand for quiet cheap enough from Mandarake if you do not mind second hand. Note - The second hand quality is often very good I was surprised with Annas body I bought - it seemed nearly like a new body.

Smart Dolls - bit more costy for the vinyl ones. On the other side there is fresh new feature called cortex - cheaper you should look at dannychoo.com for further infro.

These are my experiences with dolls and what I was starting with. All I wrote is based on experiences and personal opinions. Also tehra are few other companies but I do not have any experience with them

 

Do the reaserch. Watch photos, ask poeple etc.

Everybody has a different opinion on this and it really comes down to individual preference.
My experience was starting with pure neemo fashion dolls, then I got a smartdoll, then I got a DD. After getting more DDs and handling them, I personally found the smartdoll to be not to my taste anymore, and that the DDs eclipsed him in every way. Since I can't really have the space of money to hold onto dolls unless I really really like them, I ended up selling the smartdoll. 

If you have access to any doll meetups in your area it might be a good idea to attend one and hopefully get the chance to see dolls IRL which can be very helpful in helping you decide if you really want one or not, and which one. (Going to meetups as a newbie taught me more than any of the research I did online ever did) I can't speak for every meetup but the one I used to go to every now and then in Sydney wasn't at all opposed to people with no dolls turning up as long as they were interested in the hobby. (I had my pure neemos at least) 

Otherwise it really depends on your aesthetic preference. For example I didn't get a DD until they made Kagamine Rin, a doll I just had to have. She was supposed to be the only one but everyone here knows how that turns out. But if you were to ask me 'which is better' between DD and smartdoll, I would say DD all the way. DDs are certainly easier to customise and give you a much greater range of options in terms of head and body types - unless you really want a darker skinned doll, which only smartdoll makes easy to get at this point in time. (For tan DDs, you still need to either visit Japan yourself or get a proxy to help you...or find one second hand.)

2 hours ago, AmaFromEU said:

Hello Knight. 

 

In my opinion good starting point are Obitsu dolls from parabox. My frist doll was 60 cm obitsu - is nice but the body itselfis not so much stunnig like Smart Dolls or Dollfies. On the other hand all models with blank head and ho accesories cost 20 000 yens. Also they have nice variety of loli types of body. They are now working on some material updates so you might wait how does it go.

Dollfie Dreams - fresh new out of the box are more expensive. On the other side you can buy Dollfie Dream  second hand for quiet cheap enough from Mandarake if you do not mind second hand. Note - The second hand quality is often very good I was surprised with Annas body I bought - it seemed nearly like a new body.

Smart Dolls - bit more costy for the vinyl ones. On the other side there is fresh new feature called cortex - cheaper you should look at dannychoo.com for further infro.

These are my experiences with dolls and what I was starting with. All I wrote is based on experiences and personal opinions. Also tehra are few other companies but I do not have any experience with them

 

Do the reaserch. Watch photos, ask poeple etc.

Thank you for the info Ama. I really do like the obitsu dolls they are very cute! For a starter doll I think that would be a cool choice. I will defo consider those.

Smart Dolls and Dollfie Dreams are on my radar too. But I am leaning more towards Dollfie Dream Dolls.  I just checked the cortex model for Smart Doll, which does interest me. hmmmm... I cant seem to decide.😄

 

8 minutes ago, Knight said:

Smart Dolls and Dollfie Dreams are on my radar too. But I am leaning more towards Dollfie Dream Dolls.  I just checked the cortex model for Smart Doll, which does interest me. hmmmm... I cant seem to decide.😄

 

Hi Knight. 

Smart Dolls and Dollfie Dreams are both very good. You wouldn't go wrong with either choice. 

If your looking for more Anime themed then Dollfie Dream is a good choice for that. You can also customise  your doll in many ways. And they have many outfits to choose form. 

I don't know much about Smart Dolls. I have a cortex model on the way.  But I think they are more of a fashion based doll if that's your thing. 

I know with Dollfie Dreams you can pose them in many ways they are just a litte more flexible than Smart Dolls. 

I hope this helps ☺️👍

Let me make your decision even harder then: Consider size and availability of clothing or accessories you may like ... and their pricing.

Since I mentioned size, if you roughly stay in the 55-60cm range you will have a heap of clothing made for resin type dolls as well as a lot of them fall into that size as well.

The same kinda goes for around 40-45 cm.

However if you choose the 48ish (47-52)cm range, there may be less available, on the other hand the vinyl dolls falling into this category can be extremely versatile( part variation) and spectacular( Angel Philia, Azone, ...)

Read up about all these and see what features you like or don't, but ... most importantly ... go for the one that looks you into the eye and that you always come back to.

Good luck.

5 minutes ago, Akane said:

Hi Knight. 

Smart Dolls and Dollfie Dreams are both very good. You wouldn't go wrong with either choice. 

If your looking for more Anime themed then Dollfie Dream is a good choice for that. You can also customise  your doll in many ways. And they have many outfits to choose form. 

I don't know much about Smart Dolls. I have a cortex model on the way.  But I think they are more of a fashion based doll if that's your thing. 

I know with Dollfie Dreams you can pose them in many ways they are just a litte more flexible than Smart Dolls. 

I hope this helps ☺️👍

Thank you Akane,  You have made it more easy for me to make up my mind. I do prefer the anime style of Dollfie better, and the fact you can customize them. 

Obitsu dolls are so cute too! I think I will invest in both. 😀

Welcome Knight! Just some thoughts to help lay out the landscape... (Apologies for the novel, I can get wordy!)

The cheapest vinyl option is likely an Obitsu. You can get Obitsus directly from Obitsu (requires a proxy, but the whole process is quick and easy) or from Parabox (no proxy required). I just bought an Obitsu direct from Obitsu, and the cost was only $230 before -- even less than SmD Cortex. Another bonus with Obitsu is that parts are very cheap, so you don't need to worry if you break something.

Another budget-friendly option is Azone 50cm dolls. Some Azone dolls have painted eyes; other have inset eyes (like Smart Doll and Dollfie Dream). Azone dolls are only sold as full sets (complete doll with face-up, eyes, wig, and outfit). They run about $450 and you can buy them from lots of places (e.g., HobbySearch or AmiAmi). If you're in the US, there's also a US Dealer: Fabric Friends & Dolls. Azone dolls use the Obitsu skeleton, which means parts are very easy to get if you break anything.

NOT vinyl, but similar aesthetic, is SmartDoll Cortex. They are about $380 assembled, $330 unassembled, or $280 in the "boss grade" unassembled. Downside here is there are no parts available if you break something. Full vinyl dolls from SmartDoll are pricier, starting at $490 (doll with face-up, eyes, wig, bra/undies only). Smart Dolls are the least poseable of the anime-styled dolls, although they still pose quite well.

Then, of course, is the classic Dollfie Dream. Standard Dolls on the older body (the DDIII, which is still fantastic) start around $462 from the US shop (about $440 from the JP shop). Standards with the new f3 start around $504 US / $466 JP. Both include doll with face-up, eyes, wig, slip-dress, and undies. Obviously, limited DD can be much more, even over $1,000 for some of the fancier options with armor and such.

The priciest option, in so far as "basic" dolls go, is likely actually an Angel Philia! They start around $560 for a brand-new doll (doll with face-up & eyes only, no wig, no clothing). Something very unique about AP is the dolls have body-blushing, which no other vinyl company offers. Almost all AP dolls also come with 3 pairs of hands, which is unique (most other vinyl dolls only come with 1 pair, except for some limited Volks models). Angel Philia hands have painted nails/manicures, which is a nice touch (Volks does this on some limited dolls like Miku, but it's not standard). Angel Philia also use the Obitsu skeleton, so again parts are very cheap and easy to come by.

 

Personally, I have ALL of these doll categories! Most of my collection is Dollfie Dream (10+ dolls). They are a wonderful option -- good posing, lots and lots of clothing/wig/eye options, very common throughout the hobby, parts available for fixing breaks (although they can be pricy). They are a great beginner option, especially because they can be found on the second-hand market (often at really great prices). They also photograph very well.

I have a growing number of Azone (3) and Obitsu (3). I really love these girls! They are HIGHLY poseable (more than DD, although I've not handled the f3 yet). I lump them together because they are 100% compatible with each other -- they share option parts (hands, feet) and, again, replacement parts are easily available. They photograph very well, too. However, because they are a little more petite (mine are all 50cm), clothing, eyes, and shoes can be a little more difficult to find (although they are more & more options every day).

I only have 1 SmartDoll and 1 Angel Philia. Personally, I will not be buying any more SmartDolls. I find the faces very flat... They photograph well straight-on or at a slight angle, but if you want to do stronger angles or profiles, they do not look good in photographs (my personal opinion). Altho the body is very pretty, the posing is also not as flexible as all the other dolls listed. I also don't like Danny's attitude, and don't want to give him any more money (again, my personal opinion).

I don't much like the AP heads, but I love the AP bodies, so I will likely buy more because I can put Obitsu & Azone heads on AP bodies. However, I wouldn't recommend them for beginners. The price point is very high, and the body blushing is delicate and can be damaged if you're not careful.

1 hour ago, Cauldroness said:

Welcome Knight! Just some thoughts to help lay out the landscape... (Apologies for the novel, I can get wordy!)

The cheapest vinyl option is likely an Obitsu. You can get Obitsus directly from Obitsu (requires a proxy, but the whole process is quick and easy) or from Parabox (no proxy required). I just bought an Obitsu direct from Obitsu, and the cost was only $230 before -- even less than SmD Cortex. Another bonus with Obitsu is that parts are very cheap, so you don't need to worry if you break something.

Another budget-friendly option is Azone 50cm dolls. Some Azone dolls have painted eyes; other have inset eyes (like Smart Doll and Dollfie Dream). Azone dolls are only sold as full sets (complete doll with face-up, eyes, wig, and outfit). They run about $450 and you can buy them from lots of places (e.g., HobbySearch or AmiAmi). If you're in the US, there's also a US Dealer: Fabric Friends & Dolls. Azone dolls use the Obitsu skeleton, which means parts are very easy to get if you break anything.

NOT vinyl, but similar aesthetic, is SmartDoll Cortex. They are about $380 assembled, $330 unassembled, or $280 in the "boss grade" unassembled. Downside here is there are no parts available if you break something. Full vinyl dolls from SmartDoll are pricier, starting at $490 (doll with face-up, eyes, wig, bra/undies only). Smart Dolls are the least poseable of the anime-styled dolls, although they still pose quite well.

Then, of course, is the classic Dollfie Dream. Standard Dolls on the older body (the DDIII, which is still fantastic) start around $462 from the US shop (about $440 from the JP shop). Standards with the new f3 start around $504 US / $466 JP. Both include doll with face-up, eyes, wig, slip-dress, and undies. Obviously, limited DD can be much more, even over $1,000 for some of the fancier options with armor and such.

The priciest option, in so far as "basic" dolls go, is likely actually an Angel Philia! They start around $560 for a brand-new doll (doll with face-up & eyes only, no wig, no clothing). Something very unique about AP is the dolls have body-blushing, which no other vinyl company offers. Almost all AP dolls also come with 3 pairs of hands, which is unique (most other vinyl dolls only come with 1 pair, except for some limited Volks models). Angel Philia hands have painted nails/manicures, which is a nice touch (Volks does this on some limited dolls like Miku, but it's not standard). Angel Philia also use the Obitsu skeleton, so again parts are very cheap and easy to come by.

 

Personally, I have ALL of these doll categories! Most of my collection is Dollfie Dream (10+ dolls). They are a wonderful option -- good posing, lots and lots of clothing/wig/eye options, very common throughout the hobby, parts available for fixing breaks (although they can be pricy). They are a great beginner option, especially because they can be found on the second-hand market (often at really great prices). They also photograph very well.

I have a growing number of Azone (3) and Obitsu (3). I really love these girls! They are HIGHLY poseable (more than DD, although I've not handled the f3 yet). I lump them together because they are 100% compatible with each other -- they share option parts (hands, feet) and, again, replacement parts are easily available. They photograph very well, too. However, because they are a little more petite (mine are all 50cm), clothing, eyes, and shoes can be a little more difficult to find (although they are more & more options every day).

I only have 1 SmartDoll and 1 Angel Philia. Personally, I will not be buying any more SmartDolls. I find the faces very flat... They photograph well straight-on or at a slight angle, but if you want to do stronger angles or profiles, they do not look good in photographs (my personal opinion). Altho the body is very pretty, the posing is also not as flexible as all the other dolls listed. I also don't like Danny's attitude, and don't want to give him any more money (again, my personal opinion).

I don't much like the AP heads, but I love the AP bodies, so I will likely buy more because I can put Obitsu & Azone heads on AP bodies. However, I wouldn't recommend them for beginners. The price point is very high, and the body blushing is delicate and can be damaged if you're not careful.

Thank you for the novel Cauldronss XD    I will go with Dollfie and Obitsu as recommended by others.  As for where to get these dolls, does anyone have info? because I live in the Netherlands.  The US seems expensive. I may try Japan and see what I can get.

Volks USA only ships to North America so aside from using the site as a reference it won't help you. You can buy from Volks Japan, and Volks does have DD "friend shops" (official retailers) in other parts of the world, but it doesn't appear there is one that sells to the Netherlands at least based on the info here: https://www.dollfiedream.tokyo/dd_en/friendshop/

Another source is Mandarake, a line of stores that sell used (and effectively new since some items are still sealed) dolls: Mandarake doll section

I'm unsure on sources for Obitsu.

22 minutes ago, cfx said:

Volks USA only ships to North America so aside from using the site as a reference it won't help you. You can buy from Volks Japan, and Volks does have DD "friend shops" (official retailers) in other parts of the world, but it doesn't appear there is one that sells to the Netherlands at least based on the info here: https://www.dollfiedream.tokyo/dd_en/friendshop/

Another source is Mandarake, a line of stores that sell used (and effectively new since some items are still sealed) dolls: Mandarake doll section

I'm unsure on sources for Obitsu.

Cfx thank you for the link.  I have found two in Europe that I might try. Hopefully they ship here. As for Obitsu I can try Mandarake. 

Volks Japan/International sells to Europe just fine, but there will be import taxes. For new obitsu items, I've found Parabox to be the best place to shop. They sell full obitsu dolls and ones with parabox heads and pretty much all possible parts separately.

Edited August 8, 2019 by Yenna

4 minutes ago, Yenna said:

Volks Japan/International sells to Europe just fine, but there will be import taxes. For new obitsu items, I've found Parabox to be the best place to shop. They sell full obitsu dolls and ones with parabox heads and pretty much all possible parts separately.

Thanks Yenna. I found one which I really like in Europe. Her name is Candy and a sailor outfit. I just need shoes which will order them from Japan. import tax should not be much for a pair of shoes I hope.

I will try Parabox next for Obitsu.