Is this new and emerging principle of parsimony restricted to the realm of bags only?
Yeah, seems to be!
Seriously that's quite an arsenal!
Separately Ray - I mean in a way where I won't feel guilty about hijacking Boid's thread - I'd love to hear the thinking behind your current kit. I see overlap but know you are a very considered guy, so there will be good reason behind your line-up. I'm convinced there's a lesson or two to be had here.
I'm not sure about the very considered guy part - a lot of it is I just love checking out new gear. And when I really like something, more often than not, I buy it. I can't afford race cars or even Leicas, but evidently I can afford this level of camera addiction. Some people call it GAS and I can't argue, but I don't have any problem with it and tend to embrace it rather than fight it.
In terms of the specifics, I think the only real overlap is the Sigma DP1M, which is the same basic focal length as the Nikon Coolpix A. But the Sigma's a loaner that will be going back upon my return - the Nikon is mine. As overwhelmingly impressive as the Sigma is for detail and resolution, detail and resolution aren't really my thing. I find myself not processing the Sigma shots the way I'm creatively inclined to because they're SOOOO impressively detailed that I don't want to do anything to mess that up. So its counter to my instincts - a good learning experience, perspective check, etc. And a great camera for what it is. But I don't think "for me" is what it is...
So, I've got Fuji for the wide and ultra wide. I'll no doubt buy the 10-24 when it comes out, sell the Olympus 9-18, and Fuji will handle the wide end for me. I loved the X-Pro at 28mm and would have eventually loved it at 35 (once that 23mm f1.4 comes out), but I like the RX1 and Nikon A at those focal lengths more. I never was comfortable with the Fuji's 35mm focal length and mostly just had it on hand for very low light, but again, the RX1 kills in low light at a focal length I like more... So, the X-Pro and its wonderful OVF and those lenses went and a cheap scratch and dent XE1 replaced it to use with the 14 and wider, which don't work well with the OVF. And I've still got that wonderful Fuji look and feel, at least at the wide end. And the 14 isn't ALL THAT wide. I suspect I'll end up getting quite a lot of use out of this lens.
I've written a ton about the RX1 - I like the detail but LOVE the low light and DR capabilities and the way the lens renders and the whole feel of using the camera. Its the most premium piece of equipment I've ever owned and I'm really happy with it, even though its not quite my favorite focal length.
The Nikon A / Ricoh GR was a camera I was simply gonna own one of. Its kind of my absolute dream camera in my sweet-spot focal length - a 28mm APS sensor camera with great controls, out of hand IQ, and its discrete/fits in a pocket. Its with me more than any other camera. I could easily live with ONLY that camera. I chose the A over the GR mostly for the way it deals with auto-ISO, which I find frees me up in ways no other camera ever has for street shooting. As great as the Ricoh is, the Nikon works better for me. Its the best all-around auto-ISO execution I've yet seen and I think every camera should model on it (and I guess its big DSLR brothers from Nikon, which I believe use the same setup). For most types of shooting, this would be nice but not important. But for street, its hugely useful to me and this is my focal length for street - and everything else about this camera is great for street shooting too. And landscapes and architecture and abstracts, and about anything else you'd ever want to do with this focal length. Its resolution is more than adequate, if not up to the Sigma or Sony, and its low light and DR are great, trailing only the RX1. Great little camera - clearly my favorite and destined to be my most used... A couple of minor firmware tweaks (which will never happen) away from being my definition of a perfect camera...
And that leaves m43 for the long end. The small long lenses are great (the 75mm may be the best lens I own other than the one nailed to the front of the RX1), the form factor is great, the OMD is a great body in a lot of ways. Its the best system camera I've owned and if I was still wedded to a system, it would still be the backbone of it. But I seem to like changing cameras rather than changing lenses mostly. When I go out and shoot, its usually only with one or two focal lengths, only occasionally three, and I usually stick to one most of the day anyway. So having a bag full of nice lenses to change out seems to just be more stuff to carry. And takes longer than just grabbing a second or third camera out of the bag. And is less fun! So m43 basically handles the long end now. I still have the 12mm and 9-18 also, but the 9-18 will go once the Fuji 10-24 shows up. And the 12 is just too good to get rid of, but if I never find myself using it, I'll eventually sell it too.
So that's the way I currently rationalize my well developed GAS syndrome. Check back in another year - there will no doubt be changes to the lineup! At the moment, I can't see how or why I'd change anything, but I felt that way a year ago too and I've changed over nearly everything but the OMD body and a couple of lenses. So I'm not to be trusted if I ever say I'm sitting tight. Clearly, something will come along and grab my eye...
Oh, and to make a lame attempt at keeping this mildly topical, its because pretty much all of it fits in a Domke F10...
I guess I can't avoid the hijack when asked such a question!
-Ray