| 
		
	
		
		
		
		 
			
			Very basically, it collects more light.  The higher the scope power, the less light it transmitts.  That's why a 3X scope can get by without a large objective lense, but a 9X needs a large one.  The proliferation of 50+mm scopes is an outgrowth of this optical fact, allowing even more light on higher power scopes than with smaller objectives.
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
	 |