and aperture vs no obstruction.
Pretty similar nights. Both of course M42.
This one was through the Northgroup ED127 refractor
http://imageshack.us/f/21/m424nov12.png/
And this through the vixen VC200L
http://imageshack.us/f/84/m42ea.png/
Focal lengths similar (Refractor at 7.5, VC200L at 6.4). Major difference is the TIME - the ED127 is 5 minutes, and the VC200L was 3 minutes. Both have their strenghts and weaknesses.
Personally I tend to like the structure of the reflector and the pinpoint stars (excepting the diffraction spikes), but the colour and contrast of the refractor.
Hence why I use both in my "stable"
Maybe reprocess the reflector image for better colour.