I am new to the world of fountain pens but really like using them. I was given the "TV offer" pen set for xmas and love using the fountain pen, but know there is something better out there.

Just graduated from college with a film degree, so I spend a lot of my free time writing. I really like writing in a notebook with a fountain pen rather than on the computer. Makes it very portable and I can write whenever/wherever. I know ink matters and I know paper matters, and I am sure (much to the fear of my girlfriend) that soon I will begin buying specific paper and ink. Right now I am just looking for suggestions for pens from people who have used them far far long than I have. Enough with the rambling.

I have used the thicker Monte Blancs before (a friend of mine had one) and I am not a big fan of the fat pens. I really enjoy the thinner pens and don't really care about ink delivery (cartridge, converter, piston). I am looking to spend around 50 dollars give or take 10 or 20 dollars and am looking at a couple.

Waterman Hemisphere
Waterman Phileas (though I hear this one is pretty thick)
Cross Century II

Anyone's suggestions on these pens, or others they would recommend would be greately appreciated as I am really looking forward to beginning what I am sure will become a fountain pen obession.

The smallest pen I use is a Pelikan M200...you can get one at isellpens.com for about 60. Its a great pen....super smooth, its pretty thin, lightweight....reliable, a piston-filler....i could go on.

You should look at the Lamy pen company. They design modern innovative pens which write like those priced hundreds of dollars more.

The Safari will cost you around $15 and comes in a variety of colours and nib styles.

In addition to my beloved Binderized EF Pelican M200 I recently purchased several of the inexpensive Hero and similar pens from isellpens. Most of them are thin and light weight, some are thin and heavier. I was looking for fine nibs and these have mostly been just that. Some have needed a small amount of adjustment/smoothing, but once that was done they have been doing very well. A couple have some flex, so I've enjoyed that a lot. I was looking for below $30 at that point as I wanted several for variety rather than just one. Some are below the price range you specified, but there were others in your ball park. Lots of choices out there!

Thank you all for your suggestions so quickly! More are always appreciated. I will look into all those pens tonight, but by no means is 50 dollars the minimum, more of a ceiling rather than a floor and would not mind spending less than that as long as the pens are nice (just means I can get a couple!). Thanks again and I am open to any more suggestions as well.

If you are writing on the go, I'd definitely recommend a Lamy. They are (for the most part) very lightweight, and most of them are pretty slim. Try a Safari or Al-Star. Both are cheap and pretty much indestructible; and are made from a lightweight material.

Also, they come with a wealth of nib options, and can use a cartridge or converter. You should be able to grab one of each online for under $50, too.

I second the suggestions of the Pelikan or the Lamy. You might also look at Sheaffer Javelin or Waterman Phileas.

Lamy's are hard to beat as 1st pens plus their nibs are easily swapped from F, M, B and 3 italic sizes.

How thin? Like wooden pencil and cheapo ballpoint thin? Or thin for fountain pens? I have some that are thinner than pencils, but I think I'm lacking in pens about as wide.

Do you want thin all the way, or at least thin at the section and/or grip? I think a thin section is more important, and thicker at the back, between thumb and that part of the hand behind the forefinger, is still okay. Or a bulge below that is fine, but that's mostly for desk pens and dip pen holders.

Lamy Safaris and Al-Stars have a grip that is three sided and much thinner than the cap and barrel, and it tapers down pretty far.
I've never held a CP1 or those other models, but they seem like they'd be skinny, the cylindrical ones.

For me, Pelikan m200s aren't thin. I think of them as medium girth, but that's probably mostly about the grip, which is almost as wide as the barrel, without much taper anywhere. I probably have too many different colors for how big the grip is, but they're also short in pocket or case, and the nibs unscrew.
Pelikano isn't skinny, but the section has a little grippy indent on top for the index finger. I've only tried one.

Sheaffer Snorkels are on the thin side, thinner than Sharpies, thicker than Bics, probably thinner than most disposable rollerballs. Does length matter? They're nice and long. Not all would come in under $50. For one that doesn't work, figure on $30 to $35 for a full restoration job.

Well, I was here for the skinniness. Goodluck shopping.

Pelikan M200 or M150 would be a great place to start. Lamy makes some thin models,like the CP1,Linea,Logo.I have the Linea and it is a nice slim pen.You could also take a look at the japanese brands Pilot,Platinum and Sailor.At under 50 USD you can find some great pens.
Ujuku store on Ebay,no affiliation...
Or his website:
http://ujuku.ath.cx/ujuku-shop/kaimono/pentop3.htm
Good luck!

You want an honest constructive advice that everybody can relate to? Try and keep your wallet locked up while you read about FPs

You'll go from one fountain pen to owning a dozen within a year or two. LOL!

Thank you everyone for all your advice! I have been researching all the suggestions to find a good pen to start out with. I noticed that not only is my wallet going to suffer as I dive more and more into fountain pens, but my free time will as well! I spent 4 hours last night reading posts in the forum, reviews online, suggestions about ink and paper, and I don't think I have even scratched the surface. This could get ugly quickly!

If you can, try to see at least some pens in person. I don't think of the Lamy Safari as a particularly skinny pen, especially as you are thinking the Phileas might be too fat. To me, both are average or medium in girth, but then, I can't stand skinny pens (I'm flashing back to the old Cross ballpoints, here). That way, you'll have something for a frame of reference when you come back for further enabling advice! (I agree, the Heros are pretty thin -- not Cross ballpoint thin; I like my Heros.)

P.S. The Pilot Knight strikes me as not fat, although it is heavier than I like (just my own preference).

When I first found FPN, I read until my eyeballs practically fell out.

If you can, try to see at least some pens in person. I don't think of the Lamy Safari as a particularly skinny pen, especially as you are thinking the Phileas might be too fat. To me, both are average or medium in girth, but then, I can't stand skinny pens (I'm flashing back to the old Cross ballpoints, here). That way, you'll have something for a frame of reference when you come back for further enabling advice! (I agree, the Heros are pretty thin -- not Cross ballpoint thin; I like my Heros.)

P.S. The Pilot Knight strikes me as not fat, although it is heavier than I like (just my own preference).

When I first found FPN, I read until my eyeballs practically fell out.

Well I ended up ordering a Lamy Safari medium nib and to my surprise, received a Waterman Graduate as a gift. Hopefully these will tide me over for awhile, but after reading this forum for the past couple of days, I am afraid I am beginning to get sucked into the world of fountain pens. I am sure I will soon be looking for another pen to add to my collection, so thank you all for all your advice and helping out this newbie FP user. Now on to research ink to fill my new pens with......sigh

With all due respect, I beg to differ. It should only take a month or two to reach the dozen mark. He's already 25% there!!
Another convert.