Well, since this thread was started awhile back, I've found my new minimalist gear, a Ricoh GR ll. I like it a lot, had it for almost a year now and it has lots to recommend it as a general purpose, everyday carry around.
To begin with it's very light, however although it's lightweight...it is of robust build. Magnesium alloy body, I believe...tough, although I do take very good care of it. It is of small dimension...about the size of a cellular phone, which is also another advantage. Given that similar appearance , I think a lot of people assume that is what it is, a cell phone.
It is a fixed lens camera, a wide angle equivalent 28mm...but at F 2.8...it is relatively fast. BTW, great little lens, images are quite sharp. I also find that a 'fastish' wide angle is a good focal length to have, if all you have is one lens. Back in the days of Eisenstadt, Cartier-Bresson...one lens...usually a 50, sometimes a 35mm...seemed to be enough, for the most part.
I'm finding the same, my slightly wider than 'normal' lens, the 28 wide angle seems to be 'enough' for the most part...and if I want to get a closer up shot...then I just walk closer to the subject...and if I want to get real close...walk close up and use the macro feature of the GR. Yes, all these years of having zoom lenses, have spoiled me...letting the zoom do the walking...but as my wife points out, I could do with the exercise.
Lastly, but of great importance the GR has a large ASP-C sensor...in a very small camera and I find I can enlarge images with similar quality...to the same extent as a good and much larger, ASP-C DSLR...such as my K-5.
So, in a nutshell...high quality, solid build, top quality lens, very small and light and given these last two qualities...it fits into a small Vanguard brand camera pouch bag...attaches to my pants belt.
An important minimalist key...is the ease to which one (in this case me) can carry a good camera around during my daily life.
To paraphrase a common axiom among photographers:
'As some say the best camera to have, is the one with you...and when that one with you, is of top quality like a GR...then even more so.'