#thank you!! <3 i hope that's clearer. it's kind of hard to articulate. like i think he's bi and aware of it but also doesn't consider it...

[commsroom]

hey!! was reading your reply to the minkowski ask, and I was wondering what do you mean "straight culture bi"? and happy (belated) birthday!! so happy to have you in this community <3

oh!! i see how that might be strange wording out of context. i mean that i think eiffel is bi, but i think he perceives himself as the "default person" in a way where that's never really... impacted him socially? like, if you asked him, i think he would consider himself an ally rather than Part of the LGBT Community. even though he fits the definition of bisexuality, i think he just considers himself incidentally bisexual in a way he ignorantly assumes most people are. if that makes sense.

[rawliverandcigarettes]

Not asking for spoilers or sneak peaks, but for my sanity's sake I hoped to learn what kind of ending you have/hope to have for Halfway Home? Even musings would be fine (my brain wants something to chew on) (if you please)

Helloooo!!

So. I need you to understand that I had an internet access problem for a couple of days; so I returned to Tumblr and was met with such delightful and incredible gestures of enthusiasm from you, and this made me so very very very happy!!!

I kind of failed to find a way to articulate it in a way that was both productive and interesting for anyone that wasn't me, so I kind of abandoned this project of exploring how Halfway Home's release made me feel, but one thing that I did feel was that, apart from some truly wonderful exceptions, I felt like I had failed to find the right audience for this story. Of course I always knew it would be a niche project, especially with a trigger warning list as long and unforgiving as this one, but I still felt as if I couldn't find where the people who would connect with this weird convoluted project were, especially as the Mass Effect fandom was dwindling down by the day.

So to find so many wonderful messages in my inbox???? what a treat!!! I'm genuinely so very happy you found value in my work! <3

So!!! Now to actually answer your question ;_;

I'm currently (?? currently is very generous wording, I have definitively been taking a break for about six months) working on The Empire of Preys, which is at once a sequel, a prequel and a standalone of Halfway Home; it takes place about a year before Shlee's hatching and follows a colorful cast of complicated characters trying to navigate a "post-first contact war but pre-the mass effect series has started" world and its various spheres. It's multi PoVs (5 of them!!) and I should start making proper presentation posts soon!

So while this does reveal a lot of things regarding Halfway Home's plot (character motivations will become much clearer, as well as the stakes of the world beyond "Reapers vaporizing everybody should be avoided if possible <3"), it's not exactly a direct sequel. The in-world explanation for this extremely extensive flashback is to serve as the reply to Shlee's final question, asking to be told everything else beyond his own name --and Nagatha answering.

There is another story planned after this one, which is called Override, and this one *does* take place immediately after Halfway Home, but with ¤*added context*¤. I am still fighting with the outline on this one, as closing all of the threads is pretty difficult, but some stuff will be happening in there that I've been planning since I was 20 years old, and I'm still super excited about it! One thing that I'm trying to do, mostly failing but trying, is to really multiply the PoVs in this one, so the story escapes Shlee's very narrow and severly broken mindview and become a collective act involving as many perspectives as possible. I was trying to have each chapter become a different point of view, but I think I will have to partially give up on this idea for uhhh practical plot reasons. But the platonic ideal of this story jumps PoVs around constantly in my heart.....

In terms of the kind of ending.... It's pretty hard to say? I don't want it to end awfully, like I want to strive for hope and fight tooth and nail for this hope --while never forgetting how hard, fleeting and proactive hope can be as an act instead of a mere feeling-- but obviously the world keeps on being the world, and while it can and should be reinvented as better, actually getting there is never that simple (not to mention that what "better" is will always be up for debate).

I don't know if that answers the question but thank you so very very much for your asks!!! And everything else!!!! Thank you for having read the story ;_;

[tessiete]

Hi Tess! Wednesday and September for the writing asks? :))

HELLO!!!! Ah, I hope you’re doing well - I hope it’s sunny where you are! Thank you so much for dropping by!

september: share a comment or review which still warms your heart?

Ah, SO many! I regularly go through and reread comments to remind me that I’m doing okay, and to motivate myself...and then usually I become quickly overwhelmed and can’t reply because I just don’t know how to articulate my gratitude at such kindness. 

But, let me say, the most recent comment you left had me gleeful for days!

This part especially:

“2) Your description of the beads and the threads in his braid are amazing. I love that he only has three beads and one of them is because of an abject failure. I love that you show that Obi-Wan is not and has never been the perfect Jedi, especially as a kid. I love that he's so average, it really humanizes the character.”

Because, for me, it’s really important that Obi-Wan is just average. I think he’s incredible, and inspiring because of his devotion, and dedication. He is the antithesis of the Chosen One narrator, and yet, ultimately, he is the hero of this story. I’ve seen people complain about the Chosen One narrative, and how it relies on one super special person, and is disempowering, but Obi-Wan exists as the foil to that, and he WINS. And I love foregrounding that. So it makes me so happy when other people see it, and feel it, and comment on it! <3

wednesday: name a fic which you have posted which you think is underrated?

LOL OKAY I WILL BE SHAMELESS. To be fair, I’m not really a BNF, so I think it’s difficult to say something is underrated, but I *do* think I’ve a couple fics that are under-read. The first is “Just So, and No Clearer” which is a series of vignettes based around five poems that Obi-Wan writes to Satine. I just thought the premise of Obi-Wan as - still a young dude - DMing his sort of ex at two am like, WYD??? was so funny! But then I had to make it Obi-Wan-esque, so of course, it got sad. Anyway, I keep trying to stress how funny I find the concept  like “MUM!! HE’S SENDING HER JEDI APPROPRIATE 2AM BOOTY CALLS WHEN SHE’S TRYING TO LIVE HER LIFE. WHAT NEXT? UNSOLICITED SABER PICS!?” And my mum just went “....okay?”

But I worked really hard on those poems. 

IalsosecretlythinkthatpoorOnlyHopeisamisunderstoodbaby, but with the MAJOR caveat that the readership for it is SO delightful, SO invested, and SO funny in their comments that it’s probably been my favourite to engage with people over! So I couldn’t really say it was under-read...just read differently!

[threelivesthreeworlds]

Anonymous asked: Hello sorry if I was unclear. What I meant to say is that most people have a superficial view on intimacy of any sort, and so while I love Tang Qi's portrayal of romance, I hate most people's physicality-obsessed interpretations. Dunno if it's a western thing, but fanfiction is so out of alignment with canon romance themes that the characters are barely recognisable anymore. (1/4)

Secondly, Most readers/viewers do not give characters like Yehua or Lian Song a chance before making stereotypical assumptions about them. I love their real personalities, flaws and all, but I hate the sheer hyperexaggeration the fandom makes out of it (e.g. hating on Ji Heng). People just cannot see a character as a whole but put them into one category or the other. (2/4)

Thirdly, I just added that I relate to Lian Song(depression etc) because I kinda share his views on romance/love and don't really care for physical aspects that much. I'm aware he's a playboy, but he's also not a stereotypical one (which is unfortunately how most people interpret him) so it's a relief that your blog instead backs up my interpretation of him with facts. (3/4)

Lastly, I'm so sorry for ranting in the Q & A section. Making several points with a word limit really compromises what I'm trying to say 😆. But the bottom line was that fandoms' misinterpretations of your favourite characters makes it hard to see them in an objective light again. (4/4)  

(this 4th one came in after most of our answers were done, so we apologize if it comes off a little ??? we weren’t aware of the end goal for the anons received. We mean no ill-will in how we come across, just elaborating on things and we hope that’s alright with you. <3)

(Admin Lin): Hey! Thanks for sharing your opinions, though these anons are starting to get a little haughty for our own comfort to continue addressing. Both admins have our own grievances with the fandom / how it views particular characters (Ji Heng being a prime example here), however the fandom still offers plenty of good things from it. This is not only a western fandom “issue” (I say as this physicality isn’t necessarily an issue), it can be found in the eastern fandom as well for not only this series but others as well. Both admins are in fact western fandom despite Admin Ro being Asian.  

        As for when it comes down to interpretations - Peach Blossoms is written in first person and hard to find on the western side of the internet; Yehua has an extra from his perspective but that’s the only direct contact we get with him that isn’t through Bai Qian’s eyes. Qian isn’t a romantic person nor does she necessarily find what he does romantic, she’s been engaged to him for so long she kind of considered their engagement troublesome due to her past experience with his Uncle Sang Ji. When it comes to the drama’s take of Yehua, we get a clearer idea of him but at the same time it’s easy to see where others can’t grasp him in his entirety or simplify things when in a fanfiction. Or, for the likes of me, knows what he’s like but can’t formulate a more articulate summary or introspective version of him because of his extensive complexities and in some ways, the knowledge of a Chinese household of some fashion to express the intricacies of his upbringing. It’s merely harder. 

         In the case of Lian Song - the Western fandom doesn’t have access to the information that can be found on this blog as easily because Lotus Step is in the middle of a hiatus but will continue serializing by next year. So, it’s no one’s fault for misunderstanding what kind of playboy he is since that was only addressed in the fall of last year and the dramas both make it clear he’s a playboy / amorous person but never elaborates on it. So it’s an easy assumption to make that he may be a typical playboy by fans of the other available media because he’s not featured beyond Yehua’s uncle or Donghua’s best friend with touches here and there of his connection to Cheng Yu. It’s only in his novel that we get to see a different side of him that will ultimately have a shift at some point to what we see 50,000 years down the line. So, I’m not actually bothered by this myself, personally. It is bound to happen because no one on the western side of the fandom has as much access or want to read an untranslated novel. 

        With TQ’s stance on romance writing, I will say the concept of eternal love or a love that lasts 3,000 lifetimes is a very Chinese one that unless one digs through it with patience and interest in Buddhism / other Eastern religions, that it can be a harder nuance to grasp for those unfamiliar. 

(Admin Ro): We’re sorry you’ve had bad experiences with “fanon” material. We’re thankful that you like the content on this blog enough to comment on it! These are my opinions on the whole affair: as a Chinese woman who reads Chinese novels, from a perspective of writing tropes, hyper-exaggeration is already frequently utilized...in canon. And - from a personal standpoint, when the tropes hit right, I - don’t necessarily mind. Depth can be dug out of the text, but it’s understandable for people to simplify when they’re simply writing or analyzing for their enjoyment.  

        I’m ace, so maybe I understand, Nonny, when you say that you don’t care for the physical aspects of love.  I personally, in my life, don’t necessarily want or need that kind of intimacy, and I don’t find myself straying into the smut tag too often to read about it as it stretches my comfort limits. Granted, I am not sex-repulsed, and it takes a great deal to upset me - however, if everything is in layers and someone enjoys writing smut, then they simply enjoy that layer. Romance isn’t less good and interpretations aren’t less good if there’s a degree of physicality in it. Heck, Admin Lins and I have discussed extensively the physicality of these books - we keep it off the blog 80% of the time because tagging, but it’s a present theme. And, all of us enjoy different things. At the end of the day I think we can’t say the tropes aren’t good when the tropes are the lead-ins that drew us into the more extensive stories.

         Furthermore, a lot of what is on this blog is “read,”and I will never say my read of a character or a part of canon is “right” - or that it's “right”-er than someone else’s. Yes, there’s room for passionate debate as evidenced by many, many essays, but I’m not upset when I can’t change anyone’s mind. People are not automatically wrong when they disagree with me - even if there’s textual evidence, there is difference in interpretation of that textual evidence. I understand why fandom thinks the way it does - though, you’ll have to forgive me, my brain is 90% of the time focused on Pillow Book. Regardless, whether you walk out of a book thinking “this character has this much depth and this many flaws” or “this character is just a flat out antagonist” is very much dependent on you. Yes, we as a blog synthesize textual evidence to make that synthesis easier, but ultimately we are no better judges of anyone’s personality than anyone else out in the fandom.

         Rather, I think sometimes for the sake of finding reasons or understanding, or when we look for evidence fitting our own assumptions about characters sometimes we lean into a softer read, maybe entirely without realizing it. This is a big no in the world of analytical writing for the sake of, ironically “objectivity”  - but this is for enjoyment and not academia. There are times when textual evidence is untouched by the author's tone in terms of connotation and so when we take it for our reading and we have our pre-formed opinions we fall a little more between the lines. Admin Lins and I obviously differ in where this happens as we each have our own, minutely different vibes for characters in question. We know where our confirmation biases in interpretation might lie. Everyone has those. 

         Up till about February or March this year, I, like a lot of the rest of this fandom, wanted to roast Ji Heng on a spitfire. That is my bias. We are humans, and I think we are perhaps incapable of reading something and staying entirely objective to each character. I clawed my way out of my bias (I say ‘clawed’ because it was difficult), however, by looking at the book, looking at my own opinions, looking at other people’s opinions and asking myself: which parts of this is most likely to be true? I think the only way of striving toward objectivity in terms of portrayal is to consider other people’s portrayals, even if you don’t like them - and see if there’s any truth you can see past your bias. And to accept that truth, even if it’s a hard pill to swallow.

         I guess what I have been trying to say, for this entire time, is that we are not the authority on what is and isn’t objective, on what is and isn’t right in these characters, interpretations, and this blog. We are glad to be an interpretation you enjoy - but that doesn’t mean the rest of the fandom who have different opinions are wrong or misinterpretations. I realize we can come across like that sometimes because we make salty memes and because we write long paragraph essays when we have opinions, but ultimately, no one is wrong. Our bubble of enjoyment is our bubble, and no one has to agree with us.

[polyglottraveler]

What I learned while volunteering in a school in Peru

After volunteering for 3 weeks in a surf school in northern Peru, I went to another town to volunteer in an NGO that gives classes to children who cannot go to public school (for different reasons, mostly financial ones). It was an amazing experience, and here’s what I learned:

- I know nothing about Spanish While I was renting surfboards and talking to tourists I thought my level of Spanish was pretty good as I understood everything and could say everything I wanted to. But then I arrived to the NGO, started teaching, and all the kids were talking with their children voices, some of them would talk super fast, others would not articulate at all, and that’s how I realized that I was very far from fluent in Spanish. There’s nothing harder when you’re learning a foreign language than understanding a native speaker kid.  However, after a few days, I got used to it and started to understand nearly everything they were saying (depending on the kid). It’s all about practice and being persistent, but yes at first it was hard ^^ 

- But yet I know a lot This is a bit paradoxal, but in the end of the few weeks I spent there, I was quite proud of myself because I managed to understand those kids, to have some great conversations with them, and, most importantly, to actually teach them some useful things :) 

- Teaching kids is very different than teaching teenagers or adults I had some experience in tutoring teenagers in France (and a younger girl), as well as teaching French to adults (I taught French to refugees whom I didn’t have any language in common in this was hard too ^^) . But working with kids is a whole different thing. We were aprox. 4 volunteers for 20 kids between 7 and 11 years old and sometimes we were quite overwhelmed. There was no teacher in the classroom (the NGO does not have enough money to pay any teacher so all the academic education of these kids is in the hand of the volunteers). It was sometimes hard to get their attention and to keep them concentrated, but we managed to do it thanks to learning while playing and some tricks like meditation. 

- In 2018, there REALLY are kids that don’t get to go to school I mean, I’m not saying anything new here, we all heard about it, we have all seen figures about illiteracy etc... But seeing it with your own eyes is a whole different thing, and I swear I’m almost crying while writing this, because I’ve seen some things that I don’t even know how to tell, and I think I’m not done processing all the things I saw and lived while I was there.  So I just wanted to share this short story: I few days before I started volunteering, an 8 years old girl arrived to the NGO. She did not know how to read and write, and would barely speak to anyone. We decided that my role during my volunteering time would be to work mostly with her and to help her learn to read and write, and become more confident in the classroom. I got to know her and she started to be more talkative with me, so I eventually asked her if she had siblings. I learned that she came from a family of seven kids, she was the younger one and her brothers and sisters were all grown ups except for a 13 years old boy. So I told her that she could tell her brother to come to the school too, as we were teaching kids from 3 to 16 years old. She told me “I can’t, I never see him”. I asked her why and she said “He went working in a mine”. And I know that there are thousands of stories like that, I’m not telling you something that heartbreaking, but having this little girl right in front of you telling you that her brother, who is still a kid, hasn’t been home in over a year and works in a mine, it’s a difficult situation, and it really puts your whole life into perspective.  The main reason why these kids don’t go to school is because they need to work to support their families, mostly helping their parents selling things on the street. There’s also the fact that even if public school is “free” in Peru, families still have to pay for the uniform, for school supplies etc and these kids cannot afford it. But another reason is that the parents, most of which are illiterate, do not understand the importance of going to school, and getting a good education. They have no idea it can actually change their kid’s life. That’s why volunteers are important, that’s why prevention, information and actually going to the slums to meet the families is important. We have the power to make things change!

- This was the best experience of my life It seems weird to say it this way, because it was not Disneyland. That was teaching basic communication skills, maths, geography and English to kids who don’t even have a bed to sleep in and who live in disastrous conditions. But yes, it was probably the most life-changing and mind-opening experience of my life.  After this experience, I still had a few weeks of traveling in Peru and I kind of changed my plans and my way of traveling. I slept in ethical and ecological hostels, for example in one place where there was a dormitory for tourists as well as a dormitory for street kids, so the money you pay to sleep there goes to help those kids. I slept and ate with local communities in different villages around Lake Titicaca, with families that don’t have running water but yet have so much to share. I skipped visiting some touristic places and instead I went hiking by my own, went through small villages where I didn’t see any tourists, visited a great animal sanctuary that saves animals from traficking... All kind of stuff like this, that I wouldn’t have done without that experience in the NGO... I have a lot of new plans in the future (I’ll tell you guys about it soon) and I’m starting to see a bit clearer what I want to do in my life, and that’s all thanks to this experience and my two months of traveling in Peru.  I know I only stayed in the NGO for a few weeks. That’s a very short period of time, and even though what I did was good and probably had a positive impact on those kids, it’s very temporary and it’s not going to change their lives. What these kids need is real teachers with diplomas and a real improvement of their conditions of living, but for the moment it’s not happening... Despite all the volunteers work these children are still living in these shitty houses surrounded by trash. But what I know is that all of us, the volunteers, who all came from rich countries and who all have a comfortable life, we all lived a life changing experience, and we will all come back to our countries with new ideas, convictions and beliefs, ready to make this world a better place. And maybe one day, when we’ll be older (we were nearly all students) and richer, we will actually be able to make a big change for those kids, or those kids’ children. Also most of us where college students, so I hope that later, when we’ll get a job with responsibilities, we will be able to make the companies we will create or work for a bit better, more sustainable and more ethical. I might be a bit optimistic but when I see so many young people volunteering abroad and searching/creating new solutions for making this world a better place, I really have hope for the future and I think that our generation still has the time and power to change the world for the better :) 

- If you ever get an opportunity like this, take it You don’t need to be rich. You don’t need to be a teacher. You probably don’t even need to go abroad (I did something a bit similar in France for example). All you need is some free time, a big heart and a lot of motivation :)

If one of you is interested in knowing more about my experience, or wants the contact of the NGO I worked with, I’ll be happy to talk about it via private message :) Thanks for reading until the end, have a nice day!

[zeroviraluniverse-blog]

The 10 best full-frame DSLRs in 2018

Visit Now - http://zeroviral.com/the-10-best-full-frame-dslrs-in-2018/

The 10 best full-frame DSLRs in 2018

Most entry-level and mid-price DSLRs sport an APS-C sized sensor, with the physical dimensions of the chip measuring 23.6 x 15.7mm (22.2 x 14.8mm on Canon DSLRs). 

A full-frame sensor on the other hand has larger dimensions of 36 x 24mm – the same size as a frame of 35mm film, hence the name ‘full-frame’, and offering a surface area 2.5x larger than an APS-C sized sensor. 

This allows for larger photosites (pixels to you and I) on the sensor, delivering better light gathering capabilities, which in turn means better image quality – especially at higher sensitivities.

Many serious amateurs and enthusiasts can now enjoy the benefits of full-frame photography

Full-frame DSLRs used to be the preserve of professional photographers, but as the costs have dropped and lower-cost models have started to appear, many serious amateurs and enthusiasts can now enjoy the benefits of full-frame photography. 

We should also mention full-frame mirrorless cameras. These aren’t DSLRs strictly, but the Sony A7 series cameras like the brilliant Alpha A7R III and Leica SL are muscling in on the full-frame DSLR market, and are particularly interesting for those who also need to shoot video.

To find out more, read this: Mirrorless vs DSLR cameras: 10 key differences. Or to get an idea of what kind of DSLR you can get at different price points, try this: Best DSLR. Otherwise, here’s our pick of the best full-frame DSLRs you can buy right now:

1. Nikon D850

The best DSLR we’ve tested

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 45.4MP | Autofocus: 153-point AF, 99 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 2,359,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Expert

Breathtaking results

Excellent performance

Live View AF could be faster

SnapBridge still needs work

It may be pricey, but the Nikon D850 is the ultimate full-frame DSLR you can buy right now. The 45.4MP full-frame sensor delivers detail-rich images with brilliant dynamic range and excellent high ISO noise performance, while the advanced 153-point AF system is hard to beat. Add in 7fps burst shooting, a rock-solid build and refined handling and the D850 is pretty much at the top of its game for any subject you want to shoot. A brilliant piece of kit that won’t disappoint. 

Read our in-depth Nikon D850 review or view our hands-on video below

2. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

One of the most complete DSLRs we’ve seen

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 30.4MP | Autofocus: 61-point AF, 41 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch touchscreen, 1,620,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Expert

Stunning performance

Advanced AF system

Expensive compared to rivals

4K video options limited

The 5D Mark IV pretty much tweaks and improves on everything the Mark III offered. This includes a brilliant new 30.4MP sensor that delivers pin-sharp results, an advanced 61-point AF system that’s incredibly sophisticated, a pro-spec performance, 4K video and some very polished handling. Put this all together, along with a host of other features and it all combines to make the EOS 5D Mark IV one of the best DSLRs we’ve seen. Now overshadowed by the mighty D850 (above) as our full-frame DSLR of choice.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review

3. Nikon D810

It may have recently been ousted from the top spot, but this is still a terrific choice

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 36.3MP | Autofocus: 51-point AF, 15 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch, 1,228,800 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Expert

AA-filterless, high-res sensor

5fps continuous shooting

No built-in Wi-Fi

Large file sizes

The D850 might have replaced it, but the D810 is still a brilliant full-frame DSLR. Images from Nikon’s 36.3MP monster are bursting with detail, while its 1200-shot battery life puts the 50.6MP EOS 5DS in the shade. The 51-point AF system copes well with tricky focussing situations, mainly because both the AF and metering systems are taken from the now ex-range-topping Nikon D4S. Excellent handling and relatively modest dimensions further ensure that the D810 doesn’t disappoint. 

Read our in-depth Nikon D810 review

4. Canon EOS 5DS

Still the king when it comes to megapixels, but performance is left wanting

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 50.6MP | Autofocus: 61-point AF, 41 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Expert

Stunningly detailed images

Great AF, metering and white balance

Huge file sizes

No Wi-Fi

With 50.6 million effective pixels, the Canon EOS 5DS offers the highest resolution of any full-frame DSLR on the market today. Pixel-packed sensors can be compromised, but not here. Image quality is superb, with as you’d expect fantastic detail, well controlled noise and good dynamic range, making it the ideal choice for the landscape or studio photographer. It may have the resolution, but performance isn’t great, while there’s no Wi-Fi or 4K video recording. Huge image file sizes necessitate decent memory cards and a fast computer.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 5DS review

5. Nikon D750

A full frame DSLR packed with features for a reasonable price? Yes please

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 24.3MP | Autofocus: 51-point AF, 15 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch tilting, 1,228,800 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 6.5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Enthusiast/expert

New 24MP sensor

High performance AF system

Disappointing special effects

Tiltable screen doesn’t fully articulate

Admittedly the first four our quite pricey options, so if you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, then the Nikon D750 should be at the top of your list. The D750 still packs a cracking 24.3MP sensor and is as weatherproof as the D810, yet it’s roughly 25% cheaper. Compared to its baby brother, the D610, the D750 has a superior 51-point AF system, as well as more advanced metering and video capabilities. That’s not forgetting the wider sensitivity range, useful tilting screen and Wi-Fi connectivity. Its continuous shooting speed of 6.5fps isn’t quite as fast as some may have hoped for, but on the whole the Nikon D750 is a well-rounded, well-priced choice for enthusiast photographers.

Read our in-depth Nikon D750 review

6. Nikon D5

Nikon’s flagship DSLR has the best AF system we’ve ever seen

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 20.8MP | Autofocus: 173-point AF, 99 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch, 2,359,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 12fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Expert

Incredible AF performance

Massive ISO range

4K recording limited to 3mins

Heavy

The D5 is Nikon’s latest flagship DSLR, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. 20.8 megapixels might seem a bit stingy, but it means the D5 can shoot at 12fps continuous shooting, while the extended ISO range of ISO 3,280,000 has never been seen before in a camera. That’s even before we get to the autofocus system – with a coverage of 173 AF points (99 of which are cross-type), the sophistication and speed of the AF is staggering. The ability to shoot 4K video is restricted to three minutes however, but that aside the D5 is a phenomenal camera that’s used by professionals the world over.

Read our in-depth Nikon D5 review

7. Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

Canon’s latest top-flight DSLR is a speed machine

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 20.2MP | Autofocus: 61-point AF, 41 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch, 1,620,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 14fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Expert

Excellent control layout

14fps burst shooting

Menu could be clearer

Touchscreen functionality limited

Choosing between the EOS-1D X Mark II and Nikon D5 will most likely depend on which manufacturer you’re already tied to with your lens system, but the two cameras are otherwise pretty closely matched. With the EOS-1D X Mark II, Canon has created a very powerful and versatile camera that’s a great choice for professional sport and news photographers thanks to a blistering 14fps burst shooting. It doesn’t have the outrageous sensitivity range of the Nikon D5, but it’s very capable in low light, delivering excellent images within its standard sensitivity range.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS-1D X Mark II review

8. Sony Alpha A99 II

Sony’s flagship A-mount camera marries high-resolution stills with 4K shooting

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 42.2MP | Autofocus: 399-point AF, 79 cross-type | Screen type: 3.0-inch vari-angle display, 1,228,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 12fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Enthusiast/expert

Superb image quality

Fast AF system

Short battery life

No touchscreen

Sony has made some significant changes from the original A99 for this latest iteration, and the result is a camera that should satisfy a broad range of users. The high-resolution 42.2MP sensor at the camera’s heart is the A99 II’s greatest asset, while 4K video quality is also very good. At the same time the camera maintains much of what we loved about the A99, with excellent handing and the benefits of the SLT system presenting very real advantages over more traditional DSLRs. The arrival of the mirrorless Alpha A9 though takes the shine off a little. 

Read our in-depth Sony Alpha A99 II review

9. Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Canon’s enthusiast-focused full-frame DSLR gets an overhaul

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 26.2MP | Autofocus: 45-point AF, all cross-type | Screen type: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 6.5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Enthusiast/expert

Excellent Live View focusing

Refined touchscreen control

Poor dynamic range

Limited AF coverage

Canon has certainly made some significant improvements over the outgoing EOS 6D, packing in a host of new features including a fresh sensor, a faster processor, a much more credible AF system and a stronger burst rate. It’s a much more well-rounded and better specified camera than the EOS 6D, but it’s not without its issues. These niggles dull what is otherwise a very nice full-frame DSLR that’s a pleasure to shoot with. It will certainly please Canon users looking to make the move into full-frame photography, but others might be better served elsewhere.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 6D Mark II review 

10. Pentax K-1

Pentax’s first full-frame DSLR

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 36MP | Autofocus: 33-point AF, 25 cross-type | Screen type: 3.2-inch tilting, 1,037,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 4.4fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Enthusiast/expert

Impressive features

Competitive price

Slow AF system

Dated menu system

The K-1 from Pentax offers a rugged build and a full-frame sensor at a relatively affordable price. It’s not cheap, but it compares favourably with the likes of the Nikon D810, Canon 5D Mark III and Sony Alpha 7R II. Pentax’s Pixel Shift Technology is clever, and it’s great that the company has managed to produce a mode that can be used when the camera is hand-held, although the impact is subtle. Less of an all-rounder than the 5D Mark III, the K-1 makes an excellent camera for landscape, still life and portrait photography, or any genre that doesn’t require fast autofocus and which benefits from a high pixel count for detail resolution.

Read our in-depth Pentax K-1

Also consider…

Sony Alpha A7R III

Taking the fight to Canon and Nikon

Sensor: Full-frame CMOS | Megapixels: 42.2MP | Autofocus: 399-point AF | Screen type: 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,440,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Enthusiast/expert

10fps at 42.2MP

Incredibly fast AF

Limited touchscreen controls

No XQD card slots

If you want to go full-frame, you’re not just restricted to a DSLR. Sony’s growing range of mirrorless full-frame cameras offer a great alternative and the new Alpha A7R III looks like it could be a tempting proposition for a lot of DSLR owners. The high resolution 42.2MP sensor promises huge dynamic range, combined with 10fps shooting and an advanced AF system, and you’ve got a camera that can mix it with the best that Canon and Nikon have to offer.

Read our in-depth Sony Alpha A7R III review

Not sure whether to buy a DSLR or mirrorless camera? Check out our guide video below.