NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Camera Talk => Topic started by: ColinM on April 06, 2026, 08:33:08

Title: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: ColinM on April 06, 2026, 08:33:08
Here's the Flickr stream to see some of the images from the Artemis expedition

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/

Interesting to see the range of photo gear they've taken with them.
According to Nasa, the astronauts are using standard 10-year-old cameras, including the Nikon D5, as well as GoPros and smartphones.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: ColinM on April 06, 2026, 08:37:37
I've been tickled to hear some news reports saying this will be the first time humans have seen the dark side of the moon.

Luckily, a few of us here at NG remember the first time Apollo expeditions actually did this :)

And some classic images from the past, inc this one from 1968
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Lars Hansen on April 06, 2026, 09:20:00
I've been tickled to hear some news reports saying this will be the first time humans have seen the dark side of the moon.

Luckily, a few of us here at NG remember the first time Apollo expeditions actually did this :)

And some classic images from the past, inc this one from 1968

Thanks for sharing this, Colin!

As for the classic images from the past - quote Wikipedia:

The photograph was taken from lunar orbit on December 24, 1968, 16:39:39.3 UTC, with a highly modified Hasselblad 500 EL with an electric drive. The camera had a simple sighting ring, rather than the standard reflex viewfinder, and was loaded with a 70 mm film magazine containing custom Ektachrome film developed by Kodak. Anders had been photographing the lunar surface with a 250 mm lens, which he then used for the Earthrise images.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: ColinM on April 06, 2026, 17:03:10
Thanks Lars
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Akira on April 06, 2026, 19:37:01
If I understand the situation correctly, NASA is suffering from severe reduction of the budged because of the reason we should all know.  So they should have to make the best of what they already have.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Fons Baerken on April 06, 2026, 20:25:34
"It's not happening"!

Just the next hoax to divert attention!

For your distraction! ;)
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: ColinM on April 06, 2026, 22:54:05
"It's not happening"!
Just the next hoax to divert attention!
For your distraction! ;)

Nice try Fons!
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: ColinM on April 06, 2026, 22:55:14
So they should have to make the best of what they already have.

What's interesting is the wide-range zooms many of their shots are taken with
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Thomas Stellwag on April 06, 2026, 23:41:06
"It's not happening"!

Just the next hoax to divert attention!

For your distraction! ;)

Fons? 



Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Thomas Stellwag on April 06, 2026, 23:44:47
pictures from ground station shows more Z9 than from orbit

I think Akira is right. On the other side, those 4 people do not have to argue with 1 billion forae members about the best lens for the project. They just are free to use what they have and none of us could proove them wrong.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: toups on April 07, 2026, 04:01:38
I remember the camera of choice for the Apollo missions was a Hasselblad camera.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: David H. Hartman on April 07, 2026, 06:26:44
I remember the camera of choice for the Apollo missions was a Hasselblad camera.

If I remember correctly NASA used specially prepared Nikon F(s) but only at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, USA. :)

Dave
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Akira on April 07, 2026, 17:12:05
Here's a related article posted on PetaPixel:

https://petapixel.com/2026/04/06/the-10-year-old-nikon-d5-dslr-really-is-the-best-camera-for-artemis-ii/
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: pluton on April 07, 2026, 19:48:54
This is my new favorite "earthrise" earthset shot (D5, 80mm, f/7.1, ISO 400)  Not sure why it's 1.9:1 aspect ratio, but it works:
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Ann on April 08, 2026, 01:50:21
I did something that I had never done before: I pre-ordered a D5 and mine was, I believe, on the first shipment to reach the USA from Japan.

I have used it joyfully ever since!

Beautiful machine that has never failed to deliver!!
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Frank Fremerey on April 08, 2026, 16:47:51
Here's the Flickr stream to see some of the images from the Artemis expedition
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/)
Interesting to see the range of photo gear they've taken with them.
According to Nasa, the astronauts are using standard 10-year-old cameras, including the Nikon D5, as well as GoPros and smartphones.

AF 35/2D on a Nikon Z9???
Why use an MF lens?
Is focus irrelevant here and it is epoxy-fitted to the aperture/distance setting???

Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: ColinM on April 08, 2026, 22:52:25
Agreed Frank
Some of the lens choices seem curious
(wide range zooms 80-400, 28-300 why????)

Thank you Akira, some fascinating reading amongst those Petapixel threads

This is my new favorite "earthrise" earthset shot (D5, 80mm, f/7.1, ISO 400)  Not sure why it's 1.9:1 aspect ratio, but it works:

Thank you Keith, this is a superb image and the aspect ratio works for me
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Les Olson on April 09, 2026, 03:08:54
AF 35/2D on a Nikon Z9???

Maybe someone in the White House thought D is for Donald and told them they had to.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Ilkka Nissilä on April 09, 2026, 10:01:18
AF 35/2D on a Nikon Z9???
Why use an MF lens?
Is focus irrelevant here and it is epoxy-fitted to the aperture/distance setting???

At f/8 and infinity focus the depth of field covers a lot at astronomical distances ...
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Akira on April 10, 2026, 05:37:11
Another advantage of D5 over Z9 is the total shutter count per one battery charge.  3780 on D5 vs. 700-770 on Z9 won't be a moot difference.
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: armando_m on April 11, 2026, 20:08:05
Awesome thread , thanks for sharing it
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: David H. Hartman on April 12, 2026, 01:40:03
I remember replacing a 36 exposure roll of film in my F2 at 20~25 exposures during a lull in an event to ensure that I didn't run out of film during important action. I remember practicing loading film in near total darkness so I could change film quickly in a dark venue. I remember customers stuffing 38, maybe 39 exposures on a 36 exp. roll of film only to have the first frame devoured by my stainless steel reels during developing.

This fool changes batteries early in both cameras and speedlights and doesn't consider carrying extra batteries particular problem.

Dave

What! No one commented on my Cannon Air Force Base comment? :)
Title: Re: Nikon gear - once again, out of this world!
Post by: Airy on April 12, 2026, 14:34:26
This is my new favorite "earthrise" earthset shot (D5, 80mm, f/7.1, ISO 400)  Not sure why it's 1.9:1 aspect ratio, but it works:
quite unusual, beautiful shot