Retro chic – Polaroid Swinger (1965)
Get your £20 eBay bid on this bestselling instant snapper
What’s the story?
If you went out and spent £13 on a camera today you’d come back with a snapper more suited to propping open a door than taking photos. Back in 1965, however, it’d bag you a Swinger – one of the best-selling cameras of all time.
Why should I want one?
The Swinger was the first instant camera to use ‘shake it like a Polaroid picture’ film that develops right before your eyes. Plus, its quirky design should grab the attention of any fixie-riding hipster within half a mile. There’s even a cute window on top that displays the word ‘YES’ when the aperture is set to let sufficient light in. With Hipstamatic, Swankolab and other Lomo-esque apps as popular as bags of free gold these days, buying a Swinger is a cheap taste of the retro camera vibe – although it comes with significant caveats…
What to look for?
Polaroid discontinued the 20-Series roll film used by the Swinger long ago, so the chances are that if you buy one, it’ll be little more than a fashion accessory or decorative ornament. The battery was built into the film, so without one it won’t even turn on. Some internet-dwelling photo nerds claim you can modify one to use 600 or 120 film, but bear in mind that Hipstamatic only costs £1.49 – so do it for the love of it, not for the bargain.
Also
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Retro Chic – Canon Pellix (1965)
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
