Canonet 28 v. Canon R35F - both 2.8/40, but different lenses?

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I have always taken for granted that the Canonet 28 and the Canon A35F have essentially the same lens. Both have a 2.8/40, and program automatic shutters. I've just assumed that Canon took the Canonet 28, and added a pop-up flash, a black enamel metal body and a cool recessed crank. But really the same camera under the skin.

Looking more closely at my Canonet 28 and at my A35F, however, the front element of the lens on the A35F definitely seems larger in diameter.

Any comments out there about the relative merits of these two cameras, and whether there is a difference?

(I just shot with the Canonet 28 for the first time (in years, anyway), and was very satisfied. The A35F is in my bag, waiting to go.)

 

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Small differences

Small differences

I looked these cameras up at the Canon Museum site. Both have 5 elements in 4 groups. The exposure and shutter systems differ, with the earlier Canonet 28 having a wider exposure range, with both a slower slow speed (1/30 as compared to 1/60) and a faster top speed (1/620 v. 1/320) but the same exposure value at the top end.

Since I don't often use flash, the Canonet 28 seems preferable, for the 1/30 speed.

None of this answered my questions about the lenses - whether there is a difference.

The Canonet 28 (March 1971) has a Copal shutter and a metering range of EV 1 (f/2.8 at 1/30 sec.) - EV 17 (f/14.5 at 1/620 sec.)

The much later A35F (March 1978) has a Pario shutter and a metering range of EV 9 (f/2.8 at 1/60 sec.) - 17 (f/20 at 1/320 sec.) at ISO 100.