Stick with the 'f', in my opinion. It is quite nice.

IIf you are doing a lot of diagrams, I could see using smaller, but the 'f' is a
nice, thin, easily used and read nib.

I have some recommendations here. When it comes to fountain pens and small writing, many factors come into play. I write small and tried many different Fine (F) and Extra Fine (XF) nibs on quite a few pens. I can say for certain that every single F and XF was slightly different across brands. The paper I wrote on and the ink it was filled with also made a difference. I found a Lamy XF to be a bit to broad for my tastes on, say, Moleskine paper but that same nib, pen, ink was perfect on Rhodia paper. Furthermore, I have found that Pelican 4001 and Noodlers ink are thicker and, therefore, produce a truer line than other inks.

If at all possible find a way to try different pens, paper and inks. I know I pen collector with lots of pens so I had the advantage of trying different things and getting lots of advice and help.

I ended up purchasing a Namiki Vanishing Point with a custom XXF nib from Richards Pens. It was a little costly but it, combined with one of the two inks mentioned above, gives me the best results on anything I write on on a regular basis.

I know it is a lot of info but hope it helps.

ddammmmmmmmn.

i just got patrick-served.

fwiw i write with my lamy F's on circa paper from levenger.

emory: I am just a candle, melting in your shadow.

sowens: I think you should get that Lamy with a fine a point as is available. It will be a good starter pen. Then, pony up some cash and get yourself some paper products from Levenger which, by comparison, will make the Lamy seem even more cost effective - and improve it's performance.

Or just get a ream of Office Depot 28 Lb. recycled premium color laser printer paper for $10. It takes fountain pen ink as perfectly as any paper I've ever seen: no feathering or bleed-through, but it also soaks in and dries quickly. It also has a very smooth surface -- even writing on it with a quill pen does not feel excessively scratchy. The only defect it has, in my opinion, is that it is too bright. Print DIYPlanner forms on it, or lined journal pages, or whatever else you need, and don't feel like you have to buy brand-name paper just to use a fountain pen.

Daaammnnn! Now I've been served. Now I know how Emory felt.

Represent, Jason!

Extra fine, with Noodler's and I get a nice fine line in my Moleskine (I use one of the bigger, squared ones as a personal Method's book, waterproof ftw!) The only problem is that I need to let the ink dry for a minute or two after filling up a page in the moleskine, and on every thing else it works fine and dries quickly.

Also, it doesn't work on the cheapo recycled paper pads my lab buys, bleeds like you wouldn't believe. Other than that, its great, and it's the only pen/sharpie/pencil that never wanders off cause the fountain pen part scares my labmates.

You'll discover that Chinese and Japanese nibs tend to run finer than American or European nibs. That XXF Namiki may be sharp enough to draw blood. :)

Take a look at http://www.hisnibs.com/'237-1'.htm for low-priced Chinese-made "accounting" pens with very fine points.

I use many fountain pens almost exclusively, but I find myself returning to Lamy for daily work. I use an Al-Star with an XF nib - the same nib in the Safari and Vista - and Noodler's Legal Lapis Ink. I'll second Jason's suggestion: I've have better luck with the 28 lb laser paper than with Moleskines, Levenger, or basic legal pads. Has anyone here tested Legal Lapis on the 28 lb laser paper for permanency? The paper's really smooth, but would its coating limit the ink's absorbing into the paper? I know that for those of you in labs (been there myself), permanency is key.
I love the format of the Levenger paper, but also love the writing characteristics of the 28 lb laser paper...I think once I've finished with my current Levenger stock, I'll print out graph paper on my laser paper.
FWIW, you can't go wrong with a Lamy pen. You'll find that the more you write with it, the more you'll enjoy it. Since Lamy nibs are easy to exchange, you could always buy another nib if you're not satisfied with the one that came with the pen. I tend to swap my F and XF nibs frequently, depending on what I'm writing.

I have a Lamy Safari with a F nib. It's my first fountain pen. If/when I order another Lamy, it will have an XF nib. I write on Levenger Circa paper most of the time, but I'm used to the Pilot G-2 with the .05 tip and find the F a bit wider.

It's not a problem, per se, just a matter of preference.