Sorry if I missed it but is there any comparison between the Solarforce xml drop in vs the Manafont drop in? I recently purchased the 5 mode xml from Solarforce and I'm not sure it reaches the potential of the 3 mode xml from Manafont. I have the H-L-Strobe UF-2100 from the recent group buy and it gets hot a lot quicker than the Solarforce XML. I realize the 2100 is more "floody" but is there a chance the Solarforce xml isn't driven to it's potential? I suppose tailcap measurements would reveal the story of how hard each torch is driven, but I just received my Tr003 charger and it's a lengthy charge to potential, so I guess I'll have to wait for that measurement. Any comparison is welcome...
Is the difference visible to your eyes? Because the UF2100 gets hotter is just simple... Most of the Dropins dont have a good heat transfer to the body.
If the body gets hot quickly its a good sign that the flashlight has a good heat transfer... If not, but its still really bright, than your LED wont last long :D
Thats why the most people use aluminium foil on their dropins to improve the heat transfer to the body
That's why I'm confused. I got the XML drop in from SF, threw it in and its bright, but I wondered why it didn't get hot quickly. I'll have to research the aluminum foil trick some more. I suppose heat dispersion throughout the body is better for the torch then just in the head.
Any comment on output or how hard the drop in is driven between the solarforce and manafont driver?
Sure, here are my readings i got . Both test using SF L2P with Ultrafire 2400mah protected cells.
Solarforce 5 mode XML drop in: Hi 2.2A, Med 0.91A, 0.20 A
Manafont UF 3 mode XML drop in: Hi 2.66A, Med 0.80 A, Low 0.14A
Conclusion: With the naked eye the UF 3 mode XML is slightly brighter. Tint color on the Solarforce is a nice neutral white, while the UF XML is cool white.
Sure, here are my readings i got . Both test using SF L2P with Ultrafire 2400mah protected cells.
Solarforce 5 mode XML drop in: Hi 2.2A, Med 0.91A, 0.20 A
Manafont UF 3 mode XML drop in: Hi 2.66A, Med 0.80 A, Low 0.14A
Conclusion: With the naked eye the UF 3 mode XML is slightly brighter. Tint color on the Solarforce is a nice neutral white, while the UF XML is cool white.
I have a couple of single mode SF XM-Ls and maybe a half dozen Manafont UF/XM-L drop-ins and for me, there is no comparison. The UltraFire T6 draws more amps, is brighter and to my eyes, the SF T6 is just a tad too green for my taste. At times, the quality can be a little inconsistent but I've never had one not work.
Now that I think of it, there are some beam shots in one or more of my reviews with both drop-ins compared. Either the L2 review or maybe the L2P.
Foy
Thanks Foy, I'll check them out. Your review is the main reason I'm questioning the output of the Solarforce XML vs the Ultrafire XML. I believe the keyword was howitzer? 
. Just a newb looking for the latest and greatest.
I was just blown away by how fat the hot spot was and bright it was. Shine an UF XM-L at a wall 15 feet away and the hot spot is nearly a two foot wide dollop of white light with a spill brighter than many flashlights' total output.
getkindaexcitedsometimesFoy
You can use the aluminum from soda cans to wrap around the drop in for better heat transfer, in my case i used a red bull can that i cut into strips.
To revive this thread: I'm looking for the best 1-mode drop-in for a new Solarforce L2T. I have the 3-mode Manafont (which is gorgeous), but is there any consensus here regarding affordable single-mode XMLs?
One thing I was considering, because the tint is supposed to be nice, is the warm Solarforce P4 (even if it won't be as bright as the latest XML canon):
Thoughts?
SF has several versions of its dropins. Speaking of single 18650, some will support a voltage in the range 3 - 6V (1x1860 or 2xCR123A), others are 3.7V only (1x18650).
Maybe version 3 - 6V expresses its full potential only using 2 primary CR123A?
I wondered about that: this warm LED is 4-18v, which suggests that 1x18650 might be a bit weak.
This XML looks perfect, at 3.7v, and the color is said to be good:
As a matter of interest, what do you lose by going with a 3-6v drop-in? Seems as if it would be more versatile (for an L2m, for instance), but would performance on an 18650 suffer? Thinking about this: