Artemis II Astronauts Captured Moon Photos With 2016 Camera

The stunning photos from NASA's Artemis II lunar flyby weren't all captured with cutting-edge technology. Some of the most spectacular shots came from a Nikon D5, a camera model from 2016 that's no longer even in production.

The crew brought a variety of cameras on their historic April 2026 mission, including a top-of-the-line Nikon Z9, an iPhone 17 Pro, and several compact action cameras. But it was the older D5 that got photography communities talking.

"It was a very popular camera when it was around," said Jack Peralta from District Camera in Burke, Virginia. The D5 is a DSLR workhorse with just 20 megapixels, compared to the iPhone 17 Pro's 48 megapixels.

The photos tell the story. Images of Earth setting behind the Moon, the lunar surface during the seven-hour observation period, and Commander Reid Wiseman's view from the Orion spacecraft window are all breathtaking, regardless of which camera captured them.

For new photographers intimidated by expensive gear, this mission offers an encouraging lesson. Great photos come from skill and good lenses, not necessarily the newest camera body.

Peralta advises beginners to invest more in lens quality than the camera itself. "That adds a lot more to the quality of your pictures," he said.

Why This Inspires

In a world obsessed with the latest upgrades, NASA's choice reminds us that older tools can still deliver extraordinary results. The D5s that photographers trade in at camera shops "will definitely go very quickly," Peralta noted, showing these reliable cameras still have plenty of life left.

The debate about phones versus dedicated cameras continues, but Peralta has a simple solution for undecided customers. He keeps comparison photos on his phone showing the difference between smartphone shots and camera shots, which often seals the deal.

For aspiring photographers worried about cost, the Artemis II mission just provided the perfect example: it's not about having the newest gear, it's about making the most of what you have. Sometimes a trusty workhorse from 2016 is all you need to capture history.