Looking For A Smooth, Light Fountain Pen

[whitedot]

 

Thanks for your advice, it's quite hard to find reviews or opinions on the Diplomat FP's. I've read that Diplomat's medium nibs write rather fine for a medium nib, and I do like fine writing. But I prefer smoothness over fineness.

By any chance do you know how the M nib holds up against the F nib?

 

No, sorry. In my experience, the M was on the finer side of medium, and is likely to be a touch smoother than the F, as wider nibs often are.

[Anitropius]

If you like Sheaffer I'd recommend looking at a Sheaffer Imperial Model VI. The only problem is that it's a vintage pen, but it can easily be had for a bit less than sixty Euros in restored condition on Ebay - I picked up mine just a few days ago, and it's really smooth and very light; it just glides across the paper with no effort at all!

[wesley.mijngheer]

How about a Faber Castell Ambition with a Fine nib? ( the black resin finish, not one with the flashy wood finishes, those are quite a bit more expensive )

Without the cap posted on the back it's not too heavy and it is, in my experience, a very smooth writer. I use mine to take notes in college and it never misses a beat

[Ike Levens]

Pilot 78G, you can buy all 3 nib sizes for $28 or one for $8 + shipping. You can also easily convert them to eyedroppers. You can also lose them in the school without a big sorrow.

I did this, except instead of the medium 78G I got a metropolitan, and I swap whatever nib I use most at the time into the metro body. The pilot nibs are great for the price.

[cbaytan]

Nice to know Metropolitan bodies compatible with 78G, are there any other pens compatible with 78G nib+feed you know of?

 

I did this, except instead of the medium 78G I got a metropolitan, and I swap whatever nib I use most at the time into the metro body. The pilot nibs are great for the price.

Edited May 22, 2013 by cbaytan

[mAnuscript69]

Nice to know Metropolitan bodies compatible with 78G, are there any other pens compatible with 78G nib+feed you know of?

 

 

The Pilot Metropolitan, 78G, Prera, Plumix and Penmanship all share the same nib and feed. Only the Metropolitan's nib is etched.

 

The section of the 78G and Metropolitan are identical and can be swapped directly.

[Mister John]

Pilot 78g seems to me the way to go. It can be had for $8 at StationeryArts at the moment. At that price, you can get a couple including the nifty B nib, which is essentially a calligraphic nib.

[kps]

Amaz* UK currently have some Lamy pens steeply discounted — mostly bold nibs, which I think are unsuitable for note-taking, but also the Fine Lamy Pur for under €12 (£9.73 down from £34.90).

 

Stationery Art, previously mentioned, currently have the Pilot Prera marked down to €20. They also have the Sailor 1911 and Sapporo almost in your price range (if you escape import taxes/duties), which is not bad for a new 14K-nibbed pen.

 

Peyton Street Pens have several old-stock Sheaffer Imperial variants within your budget, including the 14K-nib 550 (again discounting possible import duties).

 

Don't forget this site has reviews of most of the pens people have mentioned.

Edited May 23, 2013 by kps

[2GreyCats]

On the rather low end of your price range, one lightweight (but not plastc) pen I've been very happy with is the Baoer 801. All metal body, but not heavy, and although it is a Fine, it writes nicely. Good pen for the price (~ $7.50 US).

[mohan]

Thank you all for your advice.

In dollars I'd say I'm looking in the $0 to $80 price range.

 

I'm interested in the Lamy AL star, it looks like a decent pen.

However I'd still like to know how the Lamy holds up against the Sheaffer Agio and the Diplomat Traveller.

Although I could find some reviews on the Agio, the Diplomat fountain pens seem quite unknown.

The Waterman Hemisphere also appeals to me. So if anyone has experience with these, especially Diplomat pens, please let me know.

I have 8 hemisheres- different finishes - all medium and fine nibs- medium are broadish mediums and fine are medium!. Two of them had skipping problems initially but got corrected by it self as I started writing with in two three weeks. All are smooth writers.

I have one Agio. Not very smooth.

Of the seven preludes 2 are broad 3 are medium and other fine. All very smooth- none had any problem. -But section grip may be annoying.

Two Pilot metro I have- One developed a crack in the section. Other developed a leak where converter joins the section. Both are useless now.