Mini to Large doll

I have a range of dolls from 1/12, 1/8, 1/6, 1/5, 1/4 and 1/3. Most of mine fall in the 1/4 range, while I have one that's 1/3. There is a huge difference (mind the pun) and I prefer my 1/4's.

Pro's and Con's:

Pro:
She's absolutely stunning
Far easier to sew for
Allows for far more detail in styling
Faceups are a little easier
Easier to re-string, kind of

Cons:
HEAVY
a bit cumbersome to pose
doesn't stand as easily, with or without a stand
Finding a stand that supports her and allows for posing was a bit of a challenge
towers over the others

Hope this helped

 

I think it's hard to answer the question. I think some factors are your joint health and general strength or maybe even your own height.
Many people say, oh, dolls don't get that heavy. But if you have arthritis or a muscular disability for example you would notice a big difference in handling 1/3 vs. 1/4. It might depend on your size too. Before my degenerative problems I didn't mind 70cm even, as I am a large person (5'10") and they are really not overwhelming to me.
There are different sizes of 1/3 too. I see you said 64cm. Depending on the doll itself some are heavier or more cantankerous to maneuver and so that will affect the experience. For example I just sold a 60cm body because it was too heavy and difficult for me compared to others I have (it was more annoying than a 64cm I have) so in this way it can be a bit of trial and error.
My advice is that it's different but if it's not going to devastate you that taking a new risk has a possibility of disappointment then you should embrace those dolls you love and bring them home, because ultimately that's how you can see if you like them best!
Good luck!

 

I tend to prefer MSD because they are easier to bring into public for photoshoots, but I like to have a couple SDs at least as well. SD is definitely easier to sew for, as mentioned, and varies greatly in weight. I personally like to cuddle my SDs; I'll sit or lie with one in my lap or on my chest, and I find them very soothing. That said, what is it about MSDs that you like? Or is it just that that's what you've always gotten? Once you know what it is you like, then you can ask questions around the doll or company you want that's SD.
For example: Do you like that they're lightweight? Ask people who have experience with the brand you're looking at how heavy the body is! If it's the space they take up, you might want to look at the space you have and evaluate if an SD doll will fit.
That said, the only true way to know how you'll feel about the doll is to hold them! If you get them and still love the face but don't love the body, you could try hybridizing with a lighter body, or maybe even a shorter one depending on head size and shoulder width.
My final advice would be to go for it. Yes, it's disappointing to have a sculpt you love end up just not connecting in person for various reasons, but better to have loved and lost still applies to dolls. If you end up like many of us with a doll that just ultimately doesn't fit with you, I promise you'll be able to find them a loving home and feel super warm fuzzies when they make someone else happy!

 

My first doll was an MSD, but I currently have everything from 1/12 on up to 75 cm. Unlike most older folks, it seems my dolls get bigger as I get older! As others have said, it's a lot easier to sew for bigger dolls, but they do take up a lot of space. There's not that much difference in prices for clothes/shoes/wigs, but they do usually cost a little more. As far as toting them around goes, I use a rolling suitcase to go to doll meets, so it's really immaterial to me.

If you have friends with SDs, or can go to a meet and hold one, that should tell you a lot. Given how much you love this SD doll, I would definitely give it a try!

 

I’ve had 1/6, 1/4 and 1/3 dolls, and I got my 1/3 last. I think, as well as taking your general health and strength into account, it might also depend on what your main activity or goal is with your dolls. As someone else mentioned, a smaller doll is easier and less conspicuous to take out in public to take pictures of, but a larger doll is easier to sew for. For me personally, one of my main activities to do with/for my dolls is sew for them, and I find I prefer my 1/3 boy (who is around 63cm) because it’s easier to sew for him. But if you typically buy clothes for your dolls and you like posing and taking lots of pictures of them, you might find that 1/3 is just too big and cumbersome. Different dolls weight differently as well- I’ve heard some people say their 1/3 dolls are very heavy, while I don’t find my boy is all that heavy at all. I do, however, work with my hands for a living and have no debilitating conditions.

 

My very first doll was a huge loongsoul boy. I absolutely loved him, but I eventually got an msd size doll and decided his size wasn't really for me. I personally find that the bigger the doll is the harder time I have with dressing them. He was also really heavy and hard to find a nice safe place for him to sit on display. I also have very little room to work with, which kind of impacted everything as well. I think that if you really love a design though you will love them. I loved my boy for 8 years, and I have no regrets about having bought him, just eventually I came to prefer smaller dolls.

 

I have both and really don't notice much difference between them, other than the obvious height factor. Some of my 1/4 dolls work with my 1/3 dolls as younger siblings, some don't depending on the companies and exact sizes (and whether the 1/4 are child or adult proportioned, of course), but from my experience, the larger dolls aren't that much heavier.

It's a very personal thing, however. I've always been drawn to larger dolls (or miniscule ones, I guess i like the extremes) even before BJD were a thing in my life.

The only real ways to figure it out is either to handle someone else's SD sized doll (at a doll meet or something if there's one you can get to) or to buy the doll you've fallen in love with on the understanding that you might have to sell it on if you don't take to that size of doll.

Teddy

 

I personally prefer the SD sizes, my biggest being 84cm. However I have one msd and I'm not used to how light he is compared to my big ones, lol !

SD are heavier and clunker for sure, in my experience they can be more troublesome to pose because they're a bit heavier. Dressing them is a chore sometimes so I generally lean them against my chest as I do so. But ! They're extremely beautiful and look nice in a collection.

 

If one is very accoustomed to MSD, getting a SD will feel very different when handling. It will be a period of adjustment. Since this is such a personal choice of what one feels comfortable with, the recommendation of going to a doll meet up or even going to a BJD store, if you live near one, is good to get a feel for the SD scale. Some SDs can be around 60ish cm in height while others can tower around 80ish cm. SDs are generally going to be heavier compared to "Minis" and "Tiny" dolls, but not all of the SDs are very heavy, since each company and BJD artist uses different types of resin.