Makes since. Just hoping this light will have configurability in the design. A big light like this will have serious heat sinking. Some will want want do drive the emitter to the max. Others at a consistent output for extended periods. That calls for 4S (with 2P and 2P as an option) and buck regulation in my book. We are talking serious thrower here. Something that would be used in search and rescue. Like searching a mountain side. Lots of area to scan.
I vote for XHP35-HI marker beam and the only head with handle style light with four 18650-s in series in the head around or under the reflector. The bottom battery tray will give it a good platform to stand on. And aluminum reflector, and UCLp plastic AR coated lens.
Probably also the cheapest variant.
3x18650 in parallel would result in a comfortable tube diameter, sufficient runtime and current.
Additionally a tube extension for further mods.
one reason for the 4x 18650 is so you don’t get that ugly plunger look, by having the larger grip it gives the light a more balanced look.
By making it longer with 2 cells long, it also helps balance the light from both a weight and visual perspective.
Plus from Dales testing the XHP35 basically matches the XP-L HI in maximum throw with almost twice the lumens and a large hotspot. With this in mind I am 100% in favor of a XHP35 based light. There also has to be a reason all the other monster throwers are using the XHP35, it costs twice as much as the XP-L afterall.
An XPL-HI pencil beam ultimate thrower is really neat and all, but its usefulness is almost zero. Apart from showing off your lightsaber what can you do with that tight of a beam? It would be similar to the Jacob A60, just proportionally larger.
XHP-35 HI gives you long throw with a larger hotspot and more output which is far more useful in my experience.
I’m in for at least 1 no matter the format. I think the standard flashlight shape is the way to go. It seems more natural way to hold a light when spotting distant objects. But really if the throw is there I wouldn’t care so much about the format. For the LED I would like to see highest cd/mm2 irregardless of total lumen output. But if it comes out to be very little difference between a 400L led and a 2400L led I might reconsider and go with a little less cd. The TN42 is the benchmark so it’s gotta beat that in cd.