Polaroid Swinger - obsolete camera from my childhood

[Velorum]

In 1967 my uncle noted my interest in photography albeit with a humble Kodak 25 Instamatic. He gave me this, a virtually new Polaroid 'Swinger'. I was beyond excited at the prospect of instant photographs - no more waiting for a week whilst the chemist sent film cartridges away to be processed! However, I was not so excited to see the results from my first couple of films. The pictures were tiny, blurred and either under or over exposed. I have read that many of these cameras had only a couple of films through them before being left at the back of a cupboard later to be donated to a charity shop or thrown in the bin. As I understand it the film packs for these went out of production many years ago so this one wont be producing any more tiny pictures again. Its a nice nostalgic ornament in my study though! I still have the Kodak 25 - the film cartridges for that are long since out of production too!

free image upload

 

[Timmyjoe]

Had one of those in about that same time period. Fun camera for a budding photographer.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I got one of these and used it for several projects while getting my BFA in Photography. To my delight, my instructors were horrified, but didn't know how to deal with the situation. What about the Zone System? But it was also "in the air" that an artist should be a provocateur... They just threw up their hands and gave me passing grades. 🤣

 

[Oren Grad]

I'm just old enough to remember the jingle from the TV commercial:



Never had a Swinger myself, though I do still have the Square Shooter 2 that I was given as a gift in the mid-'70s.

EDIT: this one gets right into the jingle from the start:

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The camera that says "YES". My brother-in-law had one, I used it when I was a kid. We bought a Polaroid 104 for my Dad when they were new. I still have that one, still works.
I still have some color pack film in the fridge.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Right beside the Brontosaurus steaks?

 

[KoNickon]

The camera that says "YES". My brother-in-law had one, I used it when I was a kid. We bought a Polaroid 104 for my Dad when they were new. I still have that one, still works.
I still have some color pack film in the fridge.

Yup, I was singing along with it. Fifty years later, still in my head.

 

[Johngwill]

I had one back in the 60's , I think it lasted about 3 films. Not very user friendly, having to wait about 15 secs with the photo hanging out the camera to let the image process and then having to coat the photo within 2 hours with a stick of sealer or it started to fade. I think I eventually gave it to my brother.

The process:

 

[oldhaven]

I am sure I remember the smell of that coating. Note unpleasant but sharp.