by JanBoettcher » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:38 pm
Well my theory (not my tale!) is: Mamiya stopped production, there were still some parts left (or Rollei ordered some more of them?) and the lenses were finished in Germany (and Singapore).
"Why"? Maybe to be able to offer a (for "political reasons") cheaper 1,4 standard lens than the Planar (remember, the Planar 1,4/50 was produced by Rollei in those days, I don't think production of the Planar 1,4/50 was much cheaper/more expensive than that of the Rolleinar 1,4/55). (same applies likewise to 2,8/35 Rolleinar/Distagon and 2,8/135 Rolleinar/Sonnar)
The only trouble is to find the right people to ask ...