I'm a bit of an ex-torch nut so maybe I can give some pointers. We get shafted down here so for anything 'good' you basically have to order it in from overseas, be prepared for 3+ weeks waiting on every purchase...
These days there are torches with what's called a "ramping interface", it might make it easier to get the perfect amount of light instead of having a set 3-7 modes. For close up inspection you want something floody instead of having to aim it perfectly like a laser, but you can always whack on a diffuser as needed.
The 'pinnacle' (aka flavour of the month) right now for torch enthusiasts is the Emisar D4 (~55 dollarydoos), it must powered from an unprotected high drain 18650 and can output 3300+ lumens for a few seconds until the PID temperature regulation kicks in.
It has a fairly floody TIR optic (with a frosted option) in front of a quad of Nichia 219C emitters at 5000k and 90+ CRI. It uses the ramping interface with 150 levels between a couple of lumens all the way to 3300+.
That's...probably overkill and the wrong torch for your application because it can literally set your pants on fire, but I thought it'd be fun to show you how far torches have come.
Headlamps tend to be floody and compact so if you don't have one already you can begin your search there, easy to bodge into your setup too as they are side-emitting.