Planetary nebula like NGC 3918 in Carina are great for seeing color (Herschel's Blue Planetary) . Looks intensely turquoise in a 22" at SPSP.
I believe I have seen rusty or ruddy red/pink in M42 wings with a 10" under very dark sky at zenith . To have the best chance of seeing colour you need to get the exit pupil up to 6 or 7 mm so the cones on the retina have the strongest light intensity. I agree that sunset is the best time to see the emerald colour of the trap in M42.
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