D2(Xs?) still used by Nasa

[mdma]

<p>Saw <a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/03/for_discovery_a_farewell_spin.html#photo23">this</a> which piqued my interest and led to some googling. A D2 varient, no?<br>

They definitely have <a href="http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=34490578">D3s's</a>, so its interesting that they're still hanging onto the older model. Then again, the current Nasa budget probably doesn't need the burden of replacing <a href="http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/16317/nikon-photography-gear/">76</a> perfectly decent cameras!<br>

I wonder if they have any F3's knocking about...</p>

[franklin_polk]

<p>D2xs (the x is lowering in height than the h of the D2H, although the photo isn't clear enough to determine whether it is an x or and xs, the purchase order would lead me to believe it is an xs), 60/2.8 macro (ring type A/M switch, recessed front element, and the edge of the focus limiter switch), and an SB-6/800. <br>

They also have quite a few lenses, I can't find it now, but there is a picture out there somewhere of a guy at a laptop on the ISS, with lenses of all sizes covering all the walls.<br>

IIRC, NASA was one of the first large scale adopters of DSLRs, with a heavily modified F4. Not having to worry about radiation fogging film, as well as keeping track of rolls I'm sure helped this. </p>

[keith_b1]

<p>NASA apparently uses a typical government purchase order process when they buy things from outside, and that means it's glacially slow. Btw, the F4 is not digital.</p>

[szrimaging]

<p>Keith, a modified F4 could be digital. Please refer to this: <a href="http://www.nikonweb.com/nasaf4/">http://www.nikonweb.com/nasaf4/</a></p>