Nikon wound up delivering 35 F5 camera bodies, 8-28mm lenses and 12 each of the 35mm and 50mm lenses to fill NASA's demand. Auto focus lenses developed for EVA use were also prepared in three different focal lengths (28mm F2.8D, 35mm F2D and 50mm F1.4D) using the same lubricant formulation. It was not until the F5 that NASA approved a new camera for use during EVA.īeing subject to the extremes of space, the F5 EVA versions had to have specific non-migrating lubricants and adhesives needed to be able to withstand temperatures ranges of -50 degrees celsius upward to 110 degrees while also being able to operate in a dry vacuum. With the F3, exposure was also preset for EVA, which often resulted in incorrect exposures, given the immense dynamic range in space and that regardless of the composition, the same exposures would be used.Īlthough the older NASA Nikon F4S had auto focus capabilities, none of this model were cleared for use outside of the space vehicle, instead they performed the duty of capturing on board activities (IVA). As such, many images captured were blurry, since the ability to verify focus using the viewfinder through the facemask of a space suit, was next to impossible.

Previously, the NASA Nikon F3 Small Camera was used for EVA recording, however the lenses required manual focusing by the astronaut. The F5 EVA model made its debut aboard the Shuttle Discovery in December of 1999 on STS-103, making it the first auto focus 35mm camera used for spacewalks. A NASA Nikon F5 'cue card' for camera, MF-28 databack and flash settings when taking photographs of the Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis from a spacecraft.

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