Well, close but not exactly the same, nevertheless, there are advantages to shooting Darks vs using LENR. Time!


Using LENR doubles your time for each exposure, and that is time you could be using to gather more Image data(Light Frames) instead.


When shooting Flats I hang a white sheet in front of the telescope and light it up with a couple white lights. That way I am assured that I get even illumination rather than changing illumination like you get when shooting the predawn sky for them. One of these days I'll get around to making a light-box to fit over the end of my telescope.


Additionally, if you don't make sure you are get the exposure right on your flats they can do more harm than good. (35%-50% of full saturation) Also shoot Dark Flats!


The Work Flow for DSS when you use all the files necessary for image calibration and stacking. Lights, Bias, Darks, Flats and Dark-Flats


The Master Bias/Offset is created from all your Bias frames.


Next the Master Bias/Offset is subtracted from your Darks and a Master Dark file is created.


Then the Master Bias/Offset is subtracted from your Dark-Flats and a Master Dark-Flat is created.


Then the Master Bias/Offset and Master Dark-Flat is subtracted from all your Flats when creating the Master Flat.


Finally the Master Bias/Offset and Master Dark are subtracted from each light frame and the results are divided by the Master Flat then stacked into your final image stack which you will save for post-processing.


When you use The cameras LENR it's essentially creating and then subtracting a Dark Frame from your light frame. But that doesn't remove all unwanted noise or artifacts that using bias darks and flats will.


When you provide DSS with everything it will work and put out a good quality stacked image.