Balda Pokarelle

The Pokarelle was a 35mm camera manufactured by Balda, a German camera company, from 1931 to 1934. This camera represented Balda's entry into the emerging 35mm format market during a period when this film size was gaining popularity among serious photographers. As with many early 35mm cameras of its era, the Pokarelle likely featured a compact metal body with a coupled rangefinder for precise focusing, though specific details about its lens and shutter systems are not readily available. Its production run of just three years suggests it faced considerable competition from established players like Leica and Contax in the nascent 35mm camera market.

While not revolutionary in design, the Pokarelle is representative of the significant transition period in photography when manufacturers were adapting smaller film formats to create portable yet capable cameras. Its existence highlights the broader adoption of 35mm technology beyond just the pioneering models, showing how multiple companies were developing this format in the early 1930s. The camera likely had a straightforward design aimed at serious amateur photographers seeking the advantages of the smaller format over larger rollfilm cameras of the time.