I use a Canon Rebel T1i with 18-55mm kit lens and the 50mm f1.8 EF and I've been trying to take Milky Way pictures, but this is the best shot I've gotten so far.
I don't stack of photoshop or any of that but I was wondering if anyone had any advice for getting better/sharper/clearer shots withOUT getting new equipment :P.

I guess you could post the settings.

EV
ISO
aperture
shutter speed
etc...

I have no clue, I'm just posting here because I'm bored.

The first question is: Are you using Photoshop Lightroom? If not... use it. I'm not sure what "I don't stack of photoshop or any of that" means.

It looks like with lightroom you could get the photo looking quite nice, smooth out some noise without ruining anything.

Anywayyyyy... I'm interested in hearing advice on star shots. I'm still learning.

Haha I guess that would probably help

EV - 0
ISO - 1600
Aperature - 4.5
Shutter Speed -20 seconds

I took this with my 18-55mm ef-s kit lens.

try out your 50 and shoot at f/1.8 to get some more light in.
And you can consider a 30 second shutter speed but the earths rotation might start to show some motion blur.

Yeah i've experimented with 30 seconds and I get star-trails, same with 25secs thats why I settled for 20 seconds.
The thing about the 50mm is I can't get a wide area of sky like I can at 18mm.

the only way to get more pronounced/clear shots is to lower the ISO increase the shutter speed and invest into a motorized star tracker which on the cheap end is starting at around 200$ for an Orion mount.

cant really stack photos without a motorized mount because the stars move, and in most cases you cant have a shutter speed longer than 30 seconds before star trails start to form.

I dont know too much about astrophotography (although I have done a bit of reading as it interests me a lot)

A wider aperture should really help to get some more light in before the star trails start to show.
Maybe test out the 50 at wide open and see if the results are that much better?
Ive been wanting to try out my 35mm at 1.8 but I havent had a good clear night lately.

Also, from what I have read, if you want a motorized mount you need to start saving. Anything under $500 will be garbage, so I hear.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would tend to think you have to use smaller aperture to get a more in focus!!
And are you sure it is the movement of the stars you get and not the movement of the camera when you press the shutter?
That photo posted is awesome! Needs some adjustments, but good start to work with!!!

no you can use a wide open aperture as your "focus" point is so far away / infinity, at that distance you have a massive DoF

Good to know!! Thanks!!!
If I feel brave enough to face the mosquito hordes, I'll give it a try, always loved what others do with night photography!!