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Ihagee Exakta VX IIa (Exakta Varex IIa)

The Ihagee Exakta VX IIa, sold as the Exakta Varex IIa outside the United States, is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera produced in Dresden in the late 1950s and 1960s. It uses the Exakta bayonet mount and features interchangeable viewfinders, with the waist-level finder and pentaprism being the commonly encountered options. When new, it was positioned as a system SLR aimed at enthusiasts and professionals.

At UK auction in 2026, the Exakta VX IIa is a condition- and completeness-sensitive body: hammer prices for plain, scruffy examples have ranged from around £25 to £170, with a median near £56 at saleroom level (wholesale, before commissions). Outfits sold at specialist sales have performed very differently — prestige results of £400, £1,000 and £1,500 have all been recorded, driven by desirable lenses, boxed kits or exceptional cosmetic condition. Today, a clean user body with a pentaprism typically sells for roughly £40–£170, so what the camera is worth depends heavily on whether it is a bare body or a complete kit.

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Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Prices updated: April 2026

Date Price Source
Apr 2026 £125 Flints Auctions
Apr 2026 £69 Flints Auctions
Mar 2026 £75 Flints Auctions
Feb 2026 £69 Flints Auctions
Oct 2025 £170 Tennants Auctioneers
Jun 2025 £188 Flints Auctions
Apr 2025 £56 Flints Auctions
Apr 2025 £25 Flints Auctions
Jan 2025 £112 Flints Auctions
Jan 2025 £25 Special Auction Services
Dec 2024 £81 Flints Auctions
Nov 2024 £238 Flints Auctions
Jun 2024 £25 Special Auction Services
Apr 2024 £125 Flints Auctions
Jan 2024 £56 Flints Auctions
Dec 2023 £40 Special Auction Services
Aug 2023 £80 Special Auction Services
Jun 2023 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
Jun 2023 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2023 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
Jul 2018 £35 Harper Field Auctions
Nov 2011 EUR 1,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 200 Leitz Auction
May 2004 EUR 250 Leitz Auction
Jul 2000 £105 Christie's
May 2000 £94 Christie's
Jul 1999 £86 Christie's
Nov 1998 £115 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is an Ihagee Exakta VX IIa worth today?

Based on recent UK auction hammer prices, a typical Exakta VX IIa body sells for around £40–£170, with a median close to £56. Exceptional boxed outfits with desirable lenses have reached £400–£1,500 at specialist sales.

How much does an Exakta Varex IIa sell for at auction?

Plain bodies in average condition have fetched between £25 and £170 at recent UK auctions. Complete kits and collector-grade examples can sell for several hundred pounds or more.

Is the Exakta VX IIa the same camera as the Varex IIa?

Yes — 'VX IIa' was the name used in the United States market and 'Varex IIa' the name used elsewhere, but the cameras are the same model from Ihagee Dresden.

Does the price depend on which viewfinder is fitted?

Yes. Bodies offered with a clean pentaprism tend to sell at the upper end of the typical range, while waist-level-only examples and rough bodies populate the lower end of recent auction results.

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