When the Artemis II mission to fly astronauts to the moon was being prepared for launch, the internet photography media, and its readers, were losing their minds about the astronauts being equipped with  “10-year-old technology.”

The technology in question is the Nikon D5, a digital single-lens-reflex design that represented the top of the line when it was introduced. It has since been replaced by the Nikon D6, then Nikon’s new mirrorless cameras, which are the current standard of photography across all camera companies.

I have great news: 10-year-old technology is great!

I’m not making this up. I have the images to prove it. Look at anything in the newspaper or on our website. The newest camera I regularly use for news gathering is the Nikon D300S, which was released in 2009. I also rely heavily on the Nikon D3, which came out in 2007. When I got ahold of the D3, I was impressed by it’s performance, it’s toughness, it’s handling, it’s high-ISO image quality, it’s versatility… the list goes on and on.

If you want a new mirrorless camera, get one. But if you have a camera that seems “outdated,” it really isn’t, because most cameras made in the last 15 years are actually pretty terrific. So format your cards, charge your batteries, and get that “old” camera out and start making pictures!