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NASA’s Artemis II crew carried some of the latest camera technology on its journey, but a discontinued Nikon DSLR introduced in 2016 has photographers talking.

The crew brought two Nikon cameras, an iPhone and several compact action cameras to capture a range of images. Among them was the Nikon D5, an older professional model that predates the industry’s broad shift toward mirrorless cameras.

Jack Peralta of District Camera in Burke, Virginia, described the 20-megapixel D5 as a heavier but dependable workhorse.

“It was a very popular camera when it was around,” Peralta said, calling it “very easy to use, but very much a professional camera.”

The D5’s resolution is modest compared with newer devices. The iPhone 17 Pro being used by the Artemis crew has a 48-megapixel camera. The crew also carried Nikon’s Z9, a top-tier mirrorless model widely used by professional photographers.

Even so, images in NASA’s online gallery demonstrate what the discontinued D5 can still produce. Its performance may encourage newcomers discouraged by the cost of the newest equipment.

Used D5 bodies remain sought after. Peralta said photographers often trade them in when upgrading, but they do not stay available for long.

“When we do get a D5 in, it will definitely go very quickly,” he said.

Smartphones have fueled an ongoing debate over whether separate cameras are still necessary. Peralta said he shows uncertain customers two versions of the same scene—one taken with a phone and the other with a camera—to demonstrate the difference. He said the comparison often persuades them to buy a camera.

For beginners deciding where to spend their money, Peralta recommends prioritizing the lens over the camera body.

“That adds a lot more to the quality of your pictures,” he said.