I've driven the XML to 2.8a in a flood to throw...you can find a post on it here. It looses throw, but gains a butt ton of flood, if that's your thing. Out of the box, I'd say either the EDI-T T11 or the C78. I've tried to like my x2000 and c30...but meh. I gave one away and use the other as a bench test drone.
The three flashlights above are from shinningbeam and they claim the mod makes them 40% brighter. I'm new, I don't know if that adds up with the different led, but you guys may be able to confirm that.
I was also considering getting a stock rc-29 or rc-C8 above and making it a XM-L light. Not sure what I would need but I'm thinking its not difficult with the right parts.
I want powerful Flood to throw with more flood. I read that the Randar RA-813: 1x18650 XML T6 Flood to Throw is available but waiting for one of the members of the forum to review it. I might consider fallowing Match's post of edi-T T11... To He(xm)LL as it looks to be the most cost effective approach to and XM-L flood to throw at this time.
That was a good review with nice pictures. Of all the mentionned Romisen lights I have mentioned, which one has the effeciant/brighter LED regardless of flood and throw? The Cree XR-E R2, XP-G R5, XP-G R4 or Cree Q5?
I have Randar 813, Romisen RC-39 and a CR123 X2000 at the same time and guess what, I just finished taking their indoor photos. Will make a comparison review (not for runtimes or lumens but with some beamshots and body shots) soon.
As a teaser, I can say Randar 813 is a very bright flooder but its throw is a bit holding it back. It pulls at least 2Amps as far as I could measure (my DIY C2 with 8xAMC7135 driver pulled only 1.9Amps at most with the same setup. It may be the wire resistance limiting it). Nice 3 mode no strobe or hidden big number of strobe modes groups are present. Build quality is nice, but could be better.
On the other hand, Romisen RC-39 pulls only 850mA with a 4.2V battery and 750mA with a 3.9V one, but its beam is different due to its TIR optics and gives a brighter and more usefull throw end. Flood is clean but of course not bright as Randar's. Romisen's build quality is very good as usual.