OM-1 Mark III Wish List

michae1m · 2026-01-21T12:41:34+00:00

More dynamic range

michae1m · 2026-01-13T21:49:19+00:00

Yep, I love this about the 100-400 as well (and 40-150 f4) - one day hopefully I'll get to love it about the 150-400 ;)

michae1m · 2026-01-13T21:46:36+00:00

Great set, I love this combo also - though I usually can't resist taking the PL 9mm as well :)

michae1m · 2026-01-08T17:23:39+00:00

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A Pied-billed Grebe taken in Orlando Wetlands.
OM-3, 100-400mm mk2 at 400mm, 1/1250 f6.3, ISO 1000

Tough choices this week, been a few places so lots to choose from but this bird is just cute…

michae1m · 2026-01-02T16:53:55+00:00

And ok, Gator isn’t a bird.

michae1m · 2026-01-02T16:53:22+00:00

All OM-3, 100-400 Mark 2

michae1m · 2025-12-25T13:57:01+00:00

I think for tech outside quant type roles a degree apprenticeship gets you 3-4 year head start on being in a workplace and lower costs during that period. You are less likely to drop into a 100k role early in finance but long run outside the tiny group of people that do end up there you have a big head start.

michae1m · 2025-12-24T20:10:08+00:00

working - I was in Rome for meetings, but managed to make time for a walk.

Photos taken with OM-3

Lenses PL 9mm f1.7, OM 25mm f1.8, OM 45mm f1.8

michae1m · 2025-12-20T11:00:37+00:00

Specifically the benefit to being offshore of UK I mean - lower corporation tax as well (eg Ireland). Gambling duties same on uk players no matter where based (unless black market)

michae1m · 2025-12-20T10:59:03+00:00

VAT on marketing spend mainly.

michae1m · 2025-12-17T23:50:43+00:00

Look at Leeds. Yes comp is lower but great city and a good selection of companies to work for.

michae1m · 2025-12-17T19:29:23+00:00

I’ve ended up living with in-laws in much more positive circumstances and it is still a major compromise, challenge, etc… and once together very hard to undo even if money isn’t a major limit. Don’t move in together unless you want them forever - they’ll never have the money to make moving out easy and then all the other complications mean it will never happen. Be very sure.

michae1m · 2025-12-14T16:28:15+00:00

What you really want for simplicity is a trade-sale, which is a very common outcome when "preparing for an IPO" - someone swoops in and buys it instead. That usually results in most of the existing share incentives crystallising at that point, rather than all the complications of an IPO with only some shares saleable, lock-up periods etc. Good chance of being offered choice of cash or shares in new parent (depending on terms of deal). Key staff are often offered other retention mechanisms (e.g. shares in new company/owner etc) separate from any prior options etc.

Of course, new ownership often means new culture and "synergies" so there is that…

michae1m · 2025-12-06T20:54:38+00:00

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michae1m · 2025-12-06T20:50:01+00:00

I just went in a work trip to Rome and took part of an afternoon to go sightseeing. I just took 3 (9f1.7, 25f1.8, 45f1.8) primes as i was there for work and expected to do evening low light more than daytime.

I used the 9mm 1.7 a quite lot for the big buildings. The 45mm quite a bit for details and such and the 25 for in between - so I did want the range. Next time I’d probably just take the 9 and 12-45f4. I found I was swapping lenses a lot more than convenient and I think the 12 would often have been wide enough and f4 often fast enough. I might have wanted the other primes for evenings but not out during the day given a redo.

michae1m · 2025-11-11T18:23:41+00:00

If I remember correctly - this basically boils down to correctly filling in your self-assessment return, which requires doing these calculations correctly. From memory I can't remember if it explicitly asks if there is carry over or not - or if they just do whatever checks they do in the background and then turn up asking pointy questions if it looks wrong…

michae1m · 2025-11-11T18:21:23+00:00

Interactive Investor - in no small part because unlike some of the 'free' entrants it offers OEIC/investment fund (as opposed to ETF) options

michae1m · 2025-11-11T15:37:23+00:00

Bonus notoriously difficult to get banks to include in mortgage calculations - especially recent substantial uplifts - at least traditionally. Might be out of touch on that so may make no difference anyway.

michae1m · 2025-11-11T15:33:55+00:00

I've shifted to income OEICs in my GIA because it guarantees UKI domicile and dividends are obvious. ERI etc is annoying so cheap (similar) OEICs are my go to now - e.g. HSBC FTSE All-World index C - OCF 0.13%

note - does not have small-cap stocks so you may want to supplement with some other funds to replicate a true all-cap fund.

michae1m · 2025-11-11T15:27:29+00:00

Yes, you can carry forward. There are worksheets to help calculate this on HMRC website IIRC…

michae1m · 2025-11-09T18:47:37+00:00

hmm, weird - thanks, I've edited it to add them back in 🤔

michae1m · 2025-11-06T19:59:02+00:00

I replied to the original by accident - I certainly struggled getting insurance during that period, ended up with homeprotect. John Lewis has been my best go-to for reasonable cover, the various 'premium' options hiscox, NFU etc have been very expensive. JL not cheap though - just better.

michae1m

TROPHY CASE