NASA Artemis II astronauts will take the 10-year-old Nikon D5 DSLR camera (you can still get one today) around the moon. Here is why:
“Artemis II’s astronauts will have two Nikon D5 digital single-lens reflex cameras available inside the cabin. These are professional-grade still and video cameras, selected both for public affairs imagery and for the crew’s own photographic priorities. Equipped with wide-angle and long-range lenses, the cameras are expected to capture everything from close-quarters life inside Orion to distant views through the spacecraft’s windows during the lunar flyby. The choice of the Nikon D5 was not accidental. The camera is known for its low-noise performance and high dynamic range, qualities that allow it to handle the stark contrast between sunlit spacecraft surfaces and deep shadow in space. Just as critical for a deep-space mission, the D5 has shown strong resistance to radiation effects, helping ensure reliable operation beyond low Earth orbit where exposure levels are significantly higher. Still, it is an old camera by today’s standards.” (Floridamedianow)
JAXA astronauts Ayu Yoneda and Makoto Suwa receive Nikon photography training
NASA astronaut Don Pettit photography from the ISS (mainly with the Nikon Z9 camera)
NASA astronaut captures amazing images with the Nikon Z9 camera
