Well, after a few further adjustments, here is a new attempt.
Naturally, I just pointed it at the stars and shot. Next time, I am going to try and point it at something specific.
Settings are now 1200 ISO, 2.8 (Samyang 35mm f/1.4), 10 seconds.
Took 17 Darks, 31 Lights.
I also removed the UV filter I had on front for day photography. Colours seem more vivid than my last attempt. I'm more optimistic.
DSS appears to have a setting to correct for 'bright' pictures. Awesome. Now I will collect more light!!
I can locate the large Magellanic cloud with an app, I wonder if I could expect to see that if I point correctly?
There doesn't seem to be much 'straight up', does there?
Much of what I am trying to see is so close to the horizon that it is obscured by trees and houses / palm trees.
I have the 100mm lens also, I wonder if that would make a difference - maybe for the Magellanic cloud...
Thank you for the many helpful posts. I do read them all carefully.
Next attempt:
1. More ISO!!
2. Point the camera at something specific.
3. Take the dark shots at the end of the session rather than at the start.
QUESTION - what I see via a single raw shot is far... more detailed than the DSS result. This makes me suspect
I'm not using DSS correctly, and that is where my issues lie.
Would someone be so kind as to look at my RAW and see how I am REALLY doing with my image capture?
LINK :
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oi...c-djFGIvPKWRKo
PIC EXPLANATION
1. Processed finished pic from DSS after processing (Whole frame)
2. Section from single RAW file captured (f/2.8, ISO 1200, 10 seconds)
3. What DSS did with it - same section
4. Section of the sky shown from sky mapping program
I have put up a close up of a raw - the dss conversion at the end, and a pic of the section of the sky it's taken from so you can recognize it.
What do you think?
As far as the star tracker - steady progress there.
I have bought a nice Velbon SGB3 which is built like a tank.
I've secured two wood boards, not solid pine, sadly, but will probably do the trick.
Cheap laser pointer ordered as well as various bits and pieces.