So if you're only flying VFR, and use an iPad for maps/navigation, is there really any point in using an EFIS? My reasoning for thinking steam gauges are better, is because it is much easier to see the position of the hand (pointer? English is not my native tongue), than to read a number. It also seems it takes just a few fractions of a second extra to actually find the right number on an EFIS. There's so much going on that it all seems to fight for my attention.

Am I reading an EFIS wrong? Do you have a feel for your planes speed that's so good you don't need to look at the ASI at all? What are the other major benefits of an EFIS, if I still don't fly anything but VFR and don't need maps?

I am lucky if I get to fly more than 50hrs a year, so I might not ever get to the point where I can reliably feel my airspeed well enough to not having to glance at the ASI. That also sounds like a factor in why a gauge would make more sense for me, than an EFIS. What I really do like about EFIS'es is how they can clean up the instrument panel. Even though it seems like it takes a fraction of a second longer to find what I am looking for in a cluttered screen, it is nice to have everything directly in front of me.

And we're talking "budget" EFIS'es from Dynon, MGL, AvMap and the likes.

I think that like most things aviation, it’s takes some time to adapt fully to either an EFIS or steam gauges. I’ve flown both pretty extensively, having spent most of my flying staring at round dials. Transition to Garmin G-1000 was a learning curve, but I soon loved it. And that system is not the most user friendly. But I soon joked (sorta) that even I could fly IFR with these systems.

BUT….VFR only, and cost considerations?? No way I’d go with an EFIS. Would I love to have one? Yes, but only if someone else pays for it….

MTV

The primary reason I installed an EFIS in my experimental is because I wanted an engine monitor. It was cheaper to install an EFIS that included engine monitor capabilities than it was to buy an engine monitor and VFR steam gauges.

I have the EFIS on the engine page most of the time because there isn’t much need to look at flight gauges during cruise.

If you have a plane that’s equipped one way or the other I don’t think it’s worth changing if all your doing is VFR. You’ll get used to the EFIS and won’t have to hunt for the info you seek one you get used to it. If your screen is really cluttered some brands will let you disable some information to clean things up a bit.

The steam gauges are quicker for you because that's what you learned in or have the most time flying. Get more time with an electronic PFD and that will swap over, assuming it's a decently intuitive one.

Another point is that it can provide all the instruments without need for a vacuum system or gyros.

My main problem with the budget EFIS/PFD's is that they look like trash, both the GUI and the physical component. Dynon's new ones are better. Why can they not make them look/feel like real aviation products as Garmin has been so successful doing? Even the AV-30 GUI looks like a child's toy compared to garmin products.