The Pouva Start is a medium format camera. It belongs to the group of viewfinder cameras and was built by Karl Pouva AG in Freital. The company was founded in 1939 by Karl Pouva.
In 1951 the simple medium format camera “Pouva Start” was introduced. More than 2 million of them were produced until the 1970s. Similar versions were built under license in Poland and Hungary. In the Federal Republic, the camera was available from Hama. Later, the photo company was transformed into a Volkseigene Betrieb (VEB) of the GDR and later merged into the camera factory Woldemar Beier.
The medium format is simple in design and made of bakelite. The Pouva Start comes with a lens that cannot be changed and must be unscrewed before shooting. The manufacturer’s name for the lens is Duplar 1:8/80 mm. The focal length is 80 mm and the widest aperture is f/8. There is no possibility to change the focus. There are two aperture settings.
The correct exposure cannot be measured by the camera. But it is not that important, because the medium format camera only has a Bulb mode and an exposure time of 1/25 sec. In Bulb mode, the shutter is open for a variable time.
Films for the Pouva Start
The Pouva Start was built for the 35mm format. Medium format films are still produced today and can be developed in most laboratories. The Kodak Portra 160* is a possible color film for the model. Black and white images are possible with the Kodak T-Max 400*.
The B&W film must be processed in a suitable developer. The color film is designed for development in the C-41 process. This development process is carried out by all photo labs that offer development of medium format films. The medium format camera exposes an image format of 6 x 6. The film is manually wound to the next image.
The Pouva Start offers the possibility to connect a cable release and has a thread for a tripod. The camera does not need power to take pictures.
The Pouva Start is only available used. Depending on the condition, the cost of copy varies.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Box camera |
| Film format | 120 |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Picture format | 60 mm x 60 mm |
| Focal length | 80 mm |
| Widest aperture | f/8 |
| Focus | Fixed |
| Exposure times | 1/25 second, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Power supply | Not necessary |
| Company name of the brand | Karl Pouva AG |
| Country of production | GDR (German Democratic Republic) |
| Estimated value / Used price | 24,49 Euro Estimate based on used prices of 18 offers (possibly with different scope of delivery and/or condition). As of June 15, 2026 |
| Average used price in the year 2023 | 28,42 Euro (30.31 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2024 | 30,67 Euro (32.47 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2025 | 25,67 Euro (27.06 US-Dollar) |
FAQ about the Pouva Start
What type of camera is the Pouva Start?
The Pouva Start is a medium-format rangefinder camera. It's a simple design, made of Bakelite, and was manufactured in Germany.
Can I change the lens on this camera?
No, the Pouva Start has a fixed lens, a Duplar 1:8/80 mm, which means you can't swap it out. To use the camera you have to screw it in before shooting.
How does focusing work on the Pouva Start?
This particular model doesn't have any focusing mechanism, it has a fixed focus. It's a very simple camera.
What kind of film does the device use?
Despite being called a medium format camera, the Pouva Start actually uses 120 roll film, commonly used in medium format photography. Both color and black and white films are compatible.
Does the camera have any metering capabilities?
No, the Pouva Start doesn't have a light meter. It only has a bulb mode and a 1/25s shutter speed. You'll need to determine exposure settings manually.
scan-blixt 66 made under license from Pouva + HEXETTE BAKELITE FLASH GUN
Who made this camerasett ?