This is a very long winded way of saying that the 5mm exit pupil of the Maven 9x45 is only fully utilized under low light conditions, but it generally makes it more comfortable to use even under bright conditions. What is more important, IMO it is an excellent optical instrument for both night and day use. There is a penalty in size and weight for a 9x45 binocular of this design, and while people spend much more, I consider $1,000 to be a significant investment in a binocular. Yet I find that it handles very well, and the views are truly outstanding. I hope you enjoy using it as much as I do.