The Harshest Reliability Test on Earth: Why NASA Still Chose a DSLR Over Mirrorless

NASA's camera testing methodology is the most brutal real-world reliability benchmark you'll never see in a DPReview spec comparison. Thermal extremes, vacuum exposure, radiation tolerance, vibration resistance, and operability in thick gloves. The Nikon D5, a camera you can buy used for under $1,500 AUD, made the cut for lunar orbit. The Z7II didn't. That's not a knock on newer gear — it's a reminder that proven high-ISO performance in extreme conditions still beats resolution and feature count when the stakes are real. Worth thinking about next time you're tempted to upgrade mid-season before you've actually stress-tested what you already own.