Cheap GoSky 32mm Plossl versus X-cel LX 25mm

[Jeff-Colorado]

I tried out a new X-Cel LX 25mm tonight in Bortle 6 skies with slightly below average seeing and transparency (and a bright moon to boot). Not ideal conditions. I have a Celestron 8SE.

I alternated eyepieces and was surprised that my cheap GoSky 32mm Plossl (stars were true pin points) seemed sharper than the X-Cel LX 25mm (stars are not quite pin points). Some it might be the extra magnification, but what else might cause the EP to not resolve stars (as pinpoints) as well as the 32mm Plossl? 

To be fair, the Orion Nebula did look a little better in the 25mm EP (probably from the extra magnification).

I also tested out a new X-Cel LX 12mm which had the same problem as the 25mm but slightly worse. Stars not pin points. Perhaps that is just the magnification in non ideal seeing. The 12mm was not parfocal at all when I used it after the 25mm (despite the claim from Celestron).

I will try again tomorrow night, but I'm thinking about returning them. Any advice would be welcome.

Edited March 19 by Jeff-Colorado

[Louis D]

On axis sharpness sometimes is sacrificed for wider apparent field of view in budget wide fields.  If you had compared the 32mm Plossl to a 24mm Panoptic and found the latter to have more bloated stars on axis in comparison to the former, then I would be concerned.

[Jeff-Colorado]

Thanks for the response, Louis. I just had expected more after reading this review in Love The Night Sky:

"The clarity in the 12mm eyepiece is stunning. I was presented with a 1° field of view full of pinpoint clear stars which was truly immersive."

[Don Pensack]

What scope?  What magnifications result from those focal lengths?  

Did you collimate the scope?  How are you collimating?

[Jeff-Colorado]

Celestron 8SE. It is well collimated (the stars are nice pinpoints when I use my 32mm Plossl EP). I believe the 12mm is 169x magnification.

Edited March 19 by Jeff-Colorado

[Jeff-Colorado]

Update. Tonight I did a more accurate comparison of the X-Cel LX 25mm and 12mm, as well as the GoSky Plossl 32mm and Celestron 8-24mm zoom.

The X-Cel LXs: The fringing (not pinpoints) around stars was gone. The 25mm was as sharp as the 32mm Plossl and since it is higher magnification, I'll call that a win for the X-cel. Stars in the 12mm (169x power) were not as pinpoint but since they are higher magnification, it should be expected.

The 8-24mm zoom wasn't as sharp (no surprise there).

So last night's subpar views were probably just a temporary blip in seeing.

Conclusion: While the X-Cel 25mm doesn't blow away the 32mm Plossl, it is better so I am happy and will keep it and the 12mm.