All articles tagged with #nikon d5
NASA photo instructors say Artemis II astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover exceeded expectations during preflight photo training; the crew used a Nikon D5 and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, faced bandwidth limits for transmitting images, and trained to solve on their own to capture crucial imagery for mission operations.
NASA’s Artemis II carried multiple cameras, including a Nikon D5 DSLR, a Nikon Z9, an iPhone 17 Pro and action cams, prompting buzz about the D5’s enduring relevance. Photographers say newer gear isn’t everything and that lens quality and technique often matter more than the body, with the mission’s images showing older cameras can still produce spectacular Earth–Moon views during the lunar flyby and observations.
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission uses a surprisingly practical mix of cameras—15 mounted on the Orion spacecraft and 17 used by the crew—headlined by Nikon’s D5 DSLR and Z9 mirrorless, plus GoPro action cams and an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The gear list includes the D5 with an 80-400mm lens, a selection of Nikon primes and zooms (35mm f/2D, Z14-24mm f/2.8, 14-24mm f/2.8 ED, 24-70mm f/2.8), the FTZ II adapter, the Z9’s newer optics, along with consumer picks (GoPro Hero 13 and iPhone 17 Pro Max). Space.com notes prices and affiliate links for shoppers to buy similar gear, underscoring NASA’s preference for reliable legacy bodies combined with modern mirrorless tech.
Artemis II’s imaging suite leans on proven, older gear: a GoPro Hero4 Black mounted outside Orion and a Nikon D5 as the primary camera, with a Nikon Z9 and iPhone 17 Pro Max also contributing, among 32 cameras aboard. NASA chose rugged, tested equipment over the latest models to endure space conditions, demonstrating you don’t need the newest gear to capture striking views of the Moon and Earth.
Artemis II astronauts will carry two Nikon D5 DSLRs from 2016 into the Moon’s vicinity to document the mission, along with personal devices and GoPros for a National Geographic documentary; NASA highlights the D5’s low noise, wide dynamic range, and radiation tolerance as reasons for its selection, while future Artemis missions may use newer cameras. A helium-system issue has delayed the launch to at least April.