Traveler vs Tak FSQ 106

Recently compared my 2yr young Traveler to a friends new Tak FSQ 106. Same Nagler eyepieces were used in a side by side comparison over a period of about 3 hours. AP MB diagonal on Traveler and Tak 2" diagonal on his. (Might be of Lumicon brand).
Anyway, here's the scoop.
On doubles, the Tak appeared to be a touch brighter, a tighter 1st difraction ring, and just the feeling of being very sterile. Feeling of more of a surgical instrument.
The Traveler on same doubles was a warmer looking, very natural pleasing view.
On Mars and the Moon the TAK once again bested the Traveler as far as digging out more contrasty detailed views.
These are items that only a side by side and experience in viewing comparison would show.
The Traveler on the other hand does just that. Beautifully machined with a case to go any where in the world. Optics im my opinion that are very,very good.
So, question is if one scope is truly right, then one is wrong?
Obviously two different manufactures on different sides of the world have different views on which way to design optics for viewing the same objects that we share viewing in the night sky.
But aren't there ways of testing optics to the same standards?
Wonder if someone in Japan has compared the Traveler to the 106 and found the same results. Could this be a geographic/climate difference in design?
Just my views.
Clear Skies,
Tom

This is the second comparison I've read between these two scopes. The other I read went in favor of the Traveler with the owner of the Tak agreeing and wanting to do a trade. What are we to believe?



Glenn

Hi Tom -

I wish I had more time that night to compare the views through these two scopes. (This night was a public night at our observatory and we had perhaps 500 people in line for a look at mars.)

I did have a brief look through both scopes and was very impressed with the contrast provided by the Tak 106 on the albedo features of Mars. The Tak was sporting the extender Q when I looked through it - so the comparison was between the Traveler at f5.8 and the Tak at f8. I thought the focuser on the Tak somewhat stiff for visual use. Both scopes offer superb performance for their aperture in a very compact package.

clear skies!
Alan Friedman