Looking Forward to 2015

Nikon D200, 16-85VR

As I come to the end of 2014, I do have to ponder exactly what I've achieved in the last year.

I've owned 2.5 systems since January (the E mount stuff only counts as half a system since it was used entirely with Nikon lenses), 7 digital bodies, a bunch of lenses and taken just under 5200 exposures, the vast majority of which were shot with a single body and 3 lenses (D200 with the Sigma 10-20, Nikkor 16-85 and Nikkor 35/1.8). That's an awful lot of kit that didn't get used a whole lot. Not a huge spend, since most of the stuff was acquired through the sale of its predecessor, but it's telling that the most used kit is also the one I spent the least on (D200 and 35/1.8).

Quite clearly I need to shoot more and buy less. And that's the plan. I'd like to end the year with no more than a single body change (most likely swapping the D200 out for a D300s or D7x00) and with the D700 remaining as my primary for the year.

In lens terms, my preference is to put together a basic set for the D700 and leave it at that. I'm strongly leaning towards a more basic system than I'd previously been considering. A 20, 35 and 105 is looking solid. All the basics, nothing more. I'll also likely wind down my film kit, I enjoy it, but not enough to seriously invest in it anymore. All I'd like to do there is swap out my current 50/2 for an AI version and maybe add a 28/3.5 on the cheap. I'll probably sell the F80 as well and just shoot with the FE.

For next year, in shooting terms my goal is to get out of the city more. My interests have shifted heavily towards landscape/nature work and I want to do more of that. I'd like to average 250 shots a month if possible (that's about the same as this year), with 2/3rds of that on the D700. D3200 remains the everyday carry body, D200 the long-lens body for now.