Indentation at the nanometer scale using a Berkovich indenter is a widely used technique for measuring mechanical properties of materials. Other indenter geometries may find application in assessing elastic contact, the mechanism of fiber push-out in composites or fracture toughness. This study undertakes a comparison between the various indenter types, explores their suitability for acquiring elastic modulus, hardness and fracture toughness data, and discusses some limitations and cautions based on the data obtained with a Nanoindente(R) and a Topometrix(R) scanning force microprobe.