SA and other new kit

I've purchased some new kit to get back into Astrophotography, I had dropped off the scene for the last 10 years or so and was spending most of my spare time on Nature photography etc..
I'll review some of the kit once I get a chance to use it some clear sky night, hopefully soon. Sorry to all if I've brought the cloudy rain gods to the fore after purchasing this new kit.
I've been using a 7D MkII for some years now and it is truly awesome for wildlife photography, I normally use a Sigma 150-500 lens for this. The lens in the photo attached is the EF 24-105 F4 L IS USM and is a decent choice for AP, though I am thinking of getting a fast doublet or triplet about 250mm FL or so.

In the photo attached is:
1. Canon EOS 7D MKII
2. EF 24-105 F4 L IS USM
3. Skywatcher Star Adventurer Pro Kit with the tripod
4. Astrokraken polar illuminator
5. Neewer intervalometer
6. Windfire Red LED hunting torch
7. Pair of kneepads (for polar alignment)

Awaiting delivery next week of a USB powered lens warmer, a 20Kg capable ballhead, and a Starwave Bahtinov Mask.

Hi Mike,

Between you and Paul buying lots of nice astro goodies lately, all this bad weather is making much more sense now : )

I'm very much looking forward to seeing your photographs over the the coming weeks & months, and by going by the images I saw on your website, I'm sure we're in for a treat....I really like the Wicklow ones, particularly the ones at Lough Ouler. I love that spot! 

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

Latest arrivals are the ball-head  www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PM2SX5C?ref_=pe_3...367563291_E_304_dt_1
Lens-Warmer  www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075XJCKD1/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_2  
and Bahtinov Mask  ktectelescopes.ie/starwave-bahtinov-mask...8IDgA2BoCwmUQAvD_BwE
I am still awaiting the final delivery, a 30000 mAh powerbank to power the lens-warmer and the Star Adventurer  www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PVY7TH6/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_1

First impressions:
The ball-head is better than I had hoped, not as heavy as I expected (which is good). It is solid and provides very stable mounting of a heavy DSLR, Battery Grip, and Lens. The mounting plate and quick release will be more familiar to telescope owners than photographers. It is solid, no play, there is zero movement when locked in place - this is essential for AP and I can't help feel it was designed by someone into AP, as all the controls will be intuitive to a scope user. I have removed the DEC Fine Adjustment piece from the SA L bracket and replaced it with this ball-head as It will give me better options for framing shots. Oh, and there is a bonus, if you've looked at the link above, the ball-head is a very close colour match to the SA green , not that it matters in the dark, but it does tie everything in.
Lens-warmer: I now realise that the lens-warmer is going to occlude access to the focusing ring of the lens. There are always trade-offs, and I'm going to have to live with this one (unless I get it to work with an electronic focuser - next project). No chance yet to use it in anger, will report later on usage.
Bahtinov mask: I made a bahtinov mask by hand more than 11 years ago for my 8" newt. I just hope this one does the same trick and remove the vagaries of focusing. I'll report later when I get a chance to test it.

The only real chance I've had to test so far is the following single frame shot in a cloudy sky in south county Wexford. 

Orion-2020-02-01
Single frame processed in Lightroom
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
ƒ/4.0 24.0 mm 51sec ISO1600

I know there is coma/barrel distortion at the corners, and this could have been dealt with by stopping down to F5.6. This should not be apparent when using this lens at the long end 105mm. We'll find out in the next installment

Oooops, my finger "accidentally" slipped on the keyboard last night and I "accidentally" purchased a used EF 70-200 F4 USM lens for my 7D MkII. I had been thinking about buying something like an Astrocat 51, but I'll get more use out of a lens I can use for daylight photography also. 
MTF chart:  www.eflens.com/ef-lenses/ef_70-200_f4l_usm.html
Sorry if this angers the cloud gods, but as I purchased prior to Storm Jorge, maybe it'll already be accommodated. By the end of next week I should have a completely portable set up, then the hard work starts - provided I get some clear skies.

Hi John, 

I very much liked reading your review of your new equipment, and the ball head seems like it was a great purchase. Great photo of Orion too. 


Keep them coming!

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

So, the last of the kit has arrived, and I put it together last night to make sure everything worked.
The complete list is now:
EOS 7D Mk2 (already had for some time now)
EF 70-200mm F4 L USM with a lens collar for balance
Lens warmer (dew heater)
Skywatcher Star Adventurer Pro Kit with the tripod
20Kg capable Ballhead
Astrokraken polar illuminator
Bahtinov mask
Wildfire Red LED torch
30,000mAh powerbank (powers warmer and mount)
Neewer Intervalometer
The complete kit (apart from camera and lens) all fits into a fishing bag (below mount) which I'd purchased in Lidl some years ago for a fiver.

So, I'm off to Wexford tomorrow for 4 nights, hope to get something, but even if the skies aren't great at least I'll get some practice. Monday or Tuesday night might be OK, and if not South Wexford is a great base for photography anyway.