Merkin
For the Weekend
For me, the size and weight of lenses are more significant than the size and weight of the body. I use a D700 with battery grip, and if I want light and easy to carry, i just put the 50mm 1.8 AF lens on it. The Nikon strap (i hate the fact that it has nikon d700 on it, but it is the best strap i have ever used) never slips off my shoulder, and distributes the weight so nicely that it is as if the camera isn't there. The benefit to this over a leica is that when the camera is on my shoulder, it doesn't bounce around, but the downside is that it isn't as good for wrapping the strap around one's wrist and just holding it all day. If i wanted to reduce the size and weight even further, i could remove the battery grip, but I use the vertical shutter release too much to warrant that.
On the other hand, put an 80-200 f2.8D on it, and the same whippy camera becomes a heavy, massive portraiture machine, which is fine, because I like the weight when it comes to that kind of shooting. It becomes a photographic rifle instead of the photographic pistol that the camera is with the diminutive 50mm on it. Granted, it is never a photographic derringer, but that is fine, because I can do a lot more with the d700 a lot faster than I could with my Leicas.
On the other hand, put an 80-200 f2.8D on it, and the same whippy camera becomes a heavy, massive portraiture machine, which is fine, because I like the weight when it comes to that kind of shooting. It becomes a photographic rifle instead of the photographic pistol that the camera is with the diminutive 50mm on it. Granted, it is never a photographic derringer, but that is fine, because I can do a lot more with the d700 a lot faster than I could with my Leicas.