OPTIMA is a small and mobile highspeed photometer which is primarily intended for the observation of young high energy pulsars at optical wavelengths. The detector system consists of a fiber fed photon counter based on avalanche photodiodes, a GPS timing receiver and an integrating CCD camera to ensure the correct positioning of the targeted object. In January 1999, OPTIMA proved its functionality by measuring the lightcurve of the Crab pulsar.