Prime lens only for a wildlife photo shoot? Yes, I did! In January I visited RSPB Conwy with a self-imposed challenge: leave the superzoom at home and shoot the whole day on prime lenses only.
My thinking was practical as much as creative. There are days when I simply cannot manage the weight of my Sigma 150-600mm, and I wanted to know what was actually possible without it. Could I still come away with shots I was happy with?
I did slightly undermine the “carrying less” logic by bringing two cameras. But here we are 😄
The Prime Lens and Camera setup
Both cameras came with me, each fitted with a prime lens 👇
- Nikon D750 with the 85mm prime lens, my beautiful old lens, full frame, lovely for wider environmental shots and anything that came close enough
- Nikon D500 with the 300mm prime lens and a converter, giving me an effective reach of around 450mm on the crop sensor
Two cameras, two focal lengths, no zoom of any kind. Whatever was in front of me, I had to work with what I had.
How it felt arriving
Honestly, I felt a little nervous.
I didn’t know how close I’d be able to get to the wildlife. At a reserve like Conwy you’re often working from hides or viewing areas, and if the birds decided to stay in the middle of the estuary, a 300mm might not be enough, and an 85mm definitely wouldn’t be and the trip would feel a bit wasted.
RSPB Conwy: accessibility
Before I even got started, I had one of those interactions that makes a real difference to a disabled visitor.
The staff at Conwy were genuinely super-helpful. When they noticed my mobility, they advised me that one section of the route was particularly muddy that day, and offered to open a gate so I could walk the circular route in reverse, avoiding the worst of it entirely.
That kind of practical, proactive help is so completely appreciated 💙
Other accessibility notes for Conwy 👇
- Plenty of accessible parking close to the entrance
- Good seating and benches throughout, including inside the hides
- Staff were approachable and knowledgeable about current conditions
- The route is mostly manageable, though muddy sections can be challenging in winter
- One side of the reserve I haven’t yet explored fully, I need to go back 🌿
I should say: that general area of North Wales is one of my absolute favourite places. I would live there in a heartbeat if I could. The landscape, the light, the wildlife. It’s beeeeyoootiful 😍
What I missed without the zoom
I won’t pretend the limitation was invisible. There were definitely moments where I couldn’t get the shots I would have managed with the superzoom 👇
- Distant birds on the water were largely out of reach, even at 450mm effective
- Some flight shots I would normally attempt just weren’t viable
- A few moments where something happened further away and I just had to watch rather than shoot
That last one was actually fine. Sometimes you just watch. That’s allowed.
What I gained instead
Here’s the thing about limitations: they change how you see.
Without the zoom as a safety net, I found myself being more patient. More deliberate. More willing to wait and see what came closer rather than reaching for distance.
And I got shots I probably wouldn’t have taken with the superzoom in my hands 👇
- The 85mm on the D750 produced some beautiful environmental shots, wider context, sense of place, the estuary and mountains together
- The 300mm on the D500 was genuinely capable for birds in flight when they came close enough, the crop sensor reach helped enormously
- The lapwing flock taking off against the Snowdonia mountains is one of my favourite shots from the whole year
That last shot in particular, I’m not sure I would have taken it with the zoom. I might have been too focused on getting close to individual birds rather than stepping back and capturing the whole scene.
The converter question
I should mention I also had a converter with me for the 300mm prime lens, which gave me a little extra reach when I needed it. It’s worth being honest that a prime lens-only day doesn’t have to mean refusing every option available. Use what you have. Adapt.
Would I do it again?
Yes, without hesitation.
Not every day, and not as a permanent switch. The superzoom earns its weight (literally) when I need reach and flexibility. But as a deliberate creative exercise, and as a practical solution for days when carrying heavy kit isn’t possible, a primes-only day absolutely works.
It reminded me that the camera you have with you, even with limitations, is better than the one you left at home because it was too heavy.
And sometimes the limitation is the point 📸
Shot on Nikon D750 with 85mm prime and Nikon D500 with 300mm prime and converter. All available second hand via the affiliate links in the kit sidebar 📷 #ad
