+1 to all.
The location also matters re dew. If you can find a grass-less area for your setup.
Since you drive anyway, instead of a cardboard box you can also use a plastic container with which you transported the little pieces and things to your setup location.
Re aligning and Goto precision without Octans: a compass helps. Include the magnetic declination /variation of your location.
If you're at the location during "solar noon", i.e. the middle of the day, you can use that method to mark the tripod leg locations on the ground.
A builder's level helps with tracking precision, too, because the mount has to be level. And balancing the scope well is necessary.
Getting familiar with "drift align" would be beneficial, as well. A search here on IIS for drift align should get useful results. In short: depending on the direction the star drifts out of view to, you adjust the mount setup like altitude and South orientation.
The Goto engines are great for visual use. But photographic use of mount and scope do need extra precision. Lastly, you don't have to aim for 5 minutes exposure time right at the beginning. Stacking several shorter exposures eventually get you somewhere in the resulting image, as well.
Re settings for DSLR: you can use "daylight" for white balance and "spot" for metering mode . Regarding ISO, have a read here
http://dslr-astrophotography.com/iso...rophotography/
The article also suggests ISO settings for major brands & models.
If you have an outdoor place at home, you can practice all this at home so you develop a routine, saving you time and nerves when you get out to a dark location, again.
Steep learning curveS are ahead. And mainly: a lot of fun under the stars!