[See also update 15.3.12]
We have now had a chance to test out the new R-26, and the results are very encouraging.
It's a black box with a large touch-screen - the body is 7" x 3" and 1.5" and so easy to carry in your hand, but not necessarily hold in your hand - not as hand-holdable as an H4n, but better than a PMD661. It has two large input level knobs, one for the left and one for the right channel, and they are very easy to use - turn it clockwise to increase the input level, very logical. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the input you are using (analog for an external mic) to ensure you get the optimum recorded level and it took a little experimentation to optimise for our BP4025 stereo mic, but once adjusted recording was superb with no discernible noise from the preamps and only a very little playback hiss, which is always tricky to isolate and may be a product of the playback circuit itself, rather than a part of the recording. So full marks so far for recording quality.
And the built-in mics are very good too; they don't sound quite as full as our BP4025, but there isn't as much difference as I'd expected (or hoped for, given that the BP4025 costs more than the whole R-26). So on first soundings you could use the built-in mics with confidence.
Good points:
huge touch screen
touch screen controls for all menu settings, and easy menu system
claimed 10 hour battery life for continuous recording
balanced XLRs with switchable phantom
can record 4- and 6-channel too
limiter on inputs
built-in mics well worth the space
Bad points:
nothing yet, but when/if they emerge they'll be added here.
So all in all a first rate recorder for your archival and broadcast projects.