I just went outside with my L5 and my CREE L1. I wanted to see the difference in throw and output. Both had fresh batteries in them. The L5 was first and then I used the L1. The TIR optic is nice, it easily out threw the L5. The overall output difference was minimal. (although the sidespill was more with the L5.) The color rendition of the L1 was way better than the L5. I may end up selling the L5 just because the L1 has better throw, is much smaller, has better color rendition, two output levels, and the output of the L5 is not really that much higher if any than the L1.
My .02
My .02