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Ihagee Exakta VX IIb (Varex IIb)

The Ihagee Exakta VX IIb, also sold as the Varex IIb, is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera produced in Dresden, East Germany. It continued the Exakta SLR line that dated back to the 1930s and was positioned as a system camera with interchangeable viewfinders and a wide range of accessories.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Exakta VX IIb have sat in a narrow £44–£75 band, with a median around £62, so what the camera is worth today reflects its status as an affordable entry into collectable East German SLRs rather than a high-value piece. Condition drives value at saleroom level: clean, working bodies with a matching waist-level finder sell for more, while examples with sluggish slow speeds or tatty leatherette tend to price at the lower end.

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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 £38 Flints Auctions
Mar 2026 £44 Flints Auctions
Jan 2026 £44 Flints Auctions
Nov 2025 £38 Flints Auctions
Sep 2025 £75 Flints Auctions
Sep 2025 £62 Flints Auctions
Aug 2025 £75 Flints Auctions
May 2025 £38 Flints Auctions
Jan 2025 £50 Flints Auctions
Aug 2024 £260 Special Auction Services
Dec 2023 £40 David Duggleby
Aug 2023 £94 Flints Auctions
Jun 2022 £138 Flints Auctions
Jan 2021 £62 Flints Auctions
Jul 1998 £57 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is an Ihagee Exakta VX IIb worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices sit between roughly £44 and £75, with a median around £62 for a typical body-and-finder example.

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

Clean, working examples have sold for about £75, while rougher bodies change hands closer to £44.

Does condition affect the price of a VX IIb?

Yes — working slow speeds, a clear prism or waist-level finder, and intact leatherette push the value toward the top of the range, while mechanical faults pull it to the lower end.

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

Yes, VX IIb was the export designation and Varex IIb the European name for the same model, as Argus held the Varex trademark in some markets.

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