Exakta VX (Varex VX) (Varex X)

The Exakta VX (also known as Varex VX or Varex X) represents a significant refinement in Exakta's pioneering line of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras. Building upon the earlier Kine Exakta models that established the SLR format for 35mm, the VX offered improved ergonomics and a more polished design. It featured the characteristic angular prism housing on the left side of the top plate, housing a waist-level reflex finder with a magnifier. Its primary innovation was the introduction of an instant-return mirror, a feature that significantly improved usability by allowing the photographer to see through the lens immediately after firing the shutter, unlike the earlier models where the mirror stayed up until the shutter was wound. The VX utilized a robust all-metal body and accepted Exakta's extensive range of interchangeable lenses via a proprietary bayonet mount, catering to both standard and specialized optics.

Produced from 1951 to 1956, the VX occupied a crucial middle ground for Exakta. It was more advanced and arguably more user-friendly than the wartime-era Kine Exakta and its immediate successors, yet it retained the core SLR principles Exakta had championed. While it lacked some of the later conveniences of more mainstream SLRs like automatic diaphragms (requiring stop-down metering) or the pentaprism options found on contemporary models like the Contax S, the VX solidified Exakta's reputation for engineering and the versatility of the SLR system. It was a workhorse camera favored by professionals and serious amateurs, particularly journalists and scientists, during the early 1950s, demonstrating the practical potential of the SLR format before it became the dominant camera type.