I'm about to build several single emitter 3 watt bicycle headlights, and am wondering what the current standard is for power LEDs. It used to be Luxeon years ago, and I have been hearing about Cree a lot. Is Cree the current baddest and brightest? ...or is somebody else the Candella King?

Also, who has the best optics? I'm wanting a 15x5 degree (somewhere about) eliptical spot.

 

In general Cree always seems to be the leader in the lumen per watt race..
As for optics.. Ledil/Carclo seem to be the leaders there

 

I knew it looked like Cree emitters and Carclo optics seem to be the most popular right now. ...but is there any brighter?

 

I don't think you can beat Cree for lumens per watt in a commercial product.

 

What about component emitters?

 

How about this one? Cree XP-L High Intensity