fwiw...
Been thru a few scopes for a few years, always looking for one a little better in low light...
Magnification is an asset, it shows you more. The top end 56mm objectives with an appropriate reticle are going to be brighter. Just spent a week with an 8x56 S&B #4, and that is about as good as I have used--though about 1x shy for that 56mm objective... Compared to a Zeiss HT 10x54 bino, the scope was a bit brighter--but of course, the bino showed more detail easily.
Not petite...
Best case low light, to save a little weight, would opt for an 8x50 with Zeiss/S&B #4 subtensions in a wire reticle...if such existed.
Bobby's list will save you some time & moolah...:)
