The P2 Tascam is nice. So is the R44
The Zoom products belong in the trash can.

I use Oktava, RODE and Sennheiser XLR mics and Tascam DR100 which I consider the absolute minimum for pro audio. Some of the units you've listed are way better.

Here's how I make the Zoom H4n work for me on a shoulder-mounted rig. The stereo shotgun mic bracket is attached to the front of the rig with a single large C-clamp, allowing me to mount it remotely from the camera when desired. I also have a self-powered long shotgun on a boom pole that works well plugged into the H4n's bottom mini-jack to bypass the built-in mics. The external battery for the H4n powers it for over 6 hours, available here:

Satechi iCel 5200 mAh USB Rechargeable Battery
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BF12QO

Outside a soundproofed studio, environmental noise almost always drowns out any preamp noise from the H4n. I run it in 4-channel mode supplying phantom power at 24-bit/48khz.

H4, Rode NTG-2 and a pocket full of batteries

@LPowell wow, that rig looks like a friggin' TIE Fighter!

For my price range it was a toss up between the zoom H4n and the Tascam DR-100. I basically flipped a coin and got the zoom. In hind sight, the Tascam probably would have been better for me.

Over-all, the H4N seems ok, though there are a few things that seem stupid to me, like there is no dedicated Line-in for getting audio off a sound board, the XLR connections don't lock, and the line-out and headphone jack are the same so you'd need a splitter if you wanted to connect it to a camera and also monitor the audio. And why can't the volume be set independently for the two XLR inputs????

I realize the DR-100 has most of these features. Supposedly the Zoom has better compressors/limiters, and really, everyone I watch regularly online that was doing DSLR stuff was using it, so I jumped on the band wagon. Would have been nice to have had a chance to physically (and audibly) compare the two for a couple days, but nowhere around here sells them that I know of.

I've literally just got the DR-100 (arrived today). I've got a -35db attenuation to run the Tascam into the GH2, but in all honestly I think it might still be running a little hot. (I'll do some tests with a tone generator and sound meter to be sure). I was originally considering one of the Beachtek DSLR adapters but I got the DR-100 for less and now I also have the advantage of being able to easily record sound without being tethered to the camera.

It's all a bit of a voyage of exploration for me - I'd still be filming on my venerable DVX100 until just recently, and I've been spoiled by having everything built in!

Sennheiser K6 plugged into a Zoom H1 does it for me. Mike is overkill but the high output from the senny means the input of the H1 is down very low.

I don't have any, but a good friend is in love with the Marantz pmd 661 :

http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/marantz-pmd661-review.html

It looks like a really good recorder.

A short useful comparison :
http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/portable-recorder-reviews.html

@LPowell
I investigated and saw that my H4n had that firmware pre-loaded, so that was a nice find, just had to de-link the two channels.

As far as the right angle xlr adapters, that looks like they would do a good job taking the stress off the connection in that setup. I don't have a shoulder rig right now, but I bought the B&H zoom package that comes with a portabrace case and some velcro clips. So I've got the zoom velcroed to my tripod, and the Zacuto EVF Flip pro up in the hot shoe. I clip my wireless receiver to the belt strap of the portabrace case, and everything is easily accessible, though not super portable. The XLR inputs are on the bottom and therefor any wired mic has a cable down on the ground at my feed. I found that a little nudge can pull that cable loose very easily. So I'm in the process of reconfiguring. Maybe need to invest in some sort of DSLR cage.

What kind of mattbox is that on your rig, by the way?

Gear:
Sound devices 552 mixer/recorder,
6 channels of lectrosonics hybrid wireless
4 mkh8040
1 mkh8060
8 DPA 4061
1 sanken cos11
2 countryman b6
Lectrosonics IFB
1 sanken css5
Loon boom 10' pole
rycote suspension and wind protection

Don't get me wrong. I don't want super portability anymore. I like your rig. Practical and functional.

I've discovered that the DR-100 doesn't have strong enough pre-amps for my Rode NTG-2. I wasn't expecting this. After some googling I've ordered the Triton Audio Fethead Phantom (http://tritonaudio.com/index.php?sectionid=4&option=com_content&task=category&id=17&Itemid=33). There's also the Rode D-PowerPlug but a lot of reviewers have returned it for being too noisy.

I'll let you know how I get on with the Fethead, I gather low power pre-amps seems to be quite common in these cheaper recorders.

Well, this has proved to be a little embarrassing. My Phantom Fethead arrived, but in the meantime I've discovered that monitoring headphones were on the way out. My DR100 is providing enough gain for my NTG-2, it was the damn headphones that were too quiet!

I tested the DR-100 with a boomed NTG-2, about a foot away from the subject, DR-100 gain to high, sensitivity dial around 7-8, and then again with the NTG-2 + Phantom Fethead, DR-100 gain to medium, volume dial around 8 again. I peak normalised both recordings in post to account for differences and there's definitely more noise with the Fethead. (I've read some reports that say High on the DR-100 is normal and medium and low are actually pads).

I'm not sure why there are threads on other forums reporting the DR-100 + NTG2 combo as too quiet, but perhaps these people aren't micing as close as we boom.

I already (foolishly) deleted the test recordings I made, but I can repeat these next week if there's interest in hearing the difference. (48 hour film contest is coming this weekend! :) I may also make some tests at a larger distance (which would require a post-production boost for the setup sans Fethead), but this aren't really relevant to my filming style.

I am waiting on the Roland R26... pre-ordered it for 399 EURO. Good price for what you get. As it shares internals with the R44, I am pretty sure this will be a high quality device and it offers everything I want: 6-channels (in different variations), XLR with phantom power, good on board mics (both omni and cardioid) and decent manual controls on the outside and it requires only 4 AA batteries. I studied the brochure and it looks like you can have 2x XLR (my Audio Technica wireless system) + stereo input (Rode Videomic) or both the X and Y on-board mic (great for room sound). Shipping in November from what I read... I will share my feedback once I get it.