The Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop "Red Wave" fountain pen with a fine nib is a wonderful proofreading pen. The ink you see here is the Pilot Namiki red cartridge, which is what I use for proofreading. The shade of red is perfect for the purpose.

The Pilot Metropolitan is widely regarded to be one of the best fountain pens you can get for the price—around $15. Some argue that it's the best fountain pen you can get for two or three times its price.

I do love both of my Metropolitans. They start writing immediately—even after lying around unused for weeks—and they lay down a precise, smooth line with no skipping or blobbing.

The pen body and cap are made of brass, so the pen feels more expensive than it is. The weight is perfect, in my opinion. You won't suffer hand fatigue with extended use.

The pen ships with a converter for using bottled ink, but I find the Namiki ink cartridges to be so convenient, and the red so perfect, that I haven't used anything else (yet) with this pen.

The Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop is a great choice for many applications, and for the price, I just don't think it can be beaten. If you've never owned a fountain pen, consider a Metropolitan (of any sort) as your first. Fountain pens are a joy to use—a writing experience unlike any other.