Benefit of zero gravity

[Warren Toda]

How often can you toss a $14,000 camera+lens into the air and not worry about it falling and breaking?

A NASA video showing a CBC interview with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Watch near the end (the last two-and-a-half minutes) as Hadfield casually tosses about his Nikon D3 and 400mm f2.8. Although, it's an older model camera and lens, so maybe he's hoping they'll break so he can get new gear. 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/I8tHGlWwAEM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/I8tHGlWwAEM</a>

[Randy Vanderveen]

Another benefit is you should be able to hand hold a large lens like this without camera shake because of weight.

[Jack Simpson]

I wonder if Mr. Hadfield has seen this commercial:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZQqj_kPZsc

 

Jack

[Robin Rowland]

Should start insuring our cameras for Earth orbit ?
Zero g ( to be accurate microgravity) appears to be no problem. When I was watching the interview it was amazing how casual Hadfield was.
  But what about re-entry? Those Soyuz capsules land pretty hard even with parachutes.

If it's personal gear and permitted by CSA and NASA, Nikon should give him new gear just for the publicity.

[Warren Toda]

And just to rub it in, here's astronaut Jeff Williams aboard the International Space Station tossing about his Nikon D4 with 800mm f5.6 lens (the lens that costs more than a small car):