In January 2024, Nikon's flagship full-frame mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z9, was sent to NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to aid in research and documenting life among the stars. The Z9 was provided to 'capture iconic and breathtaking images of Earth and space in stellar quality and clarity'. The Z9 certainly has the ability to do that job, as not only is it one of the best Nikon cameras, but it is among the best mirrorless cameras on the market.
This marks a significant landmark in Nikon's history, as it is the first Z series, Nikon's mirrorless range, that has been used by the space station crew. The advancement in the Z9's mirrorless technology means that it will replace the existing inventory of Nikon D5 and D6 digital DSLRs previously used aboard. The shipment saw 13 Z9s along with 15 of the best Nikon Z lenses shipped via SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, along with several Nikon FTZ II adapters, for use with the current inventory.
