Photography was a popular hobby in the 1950s and '60s. Many people owned a basic camera, often a box Brownie, made by Kodak with which they would take snaps of their holidays and of family events.
The basic snapshot camera evolved through the 1950s and '60s. Kodak was a pioneer. Their Instamatic introduced in the early sixties freed people from fiddling with the roll film that had been the common format for the snapshot market.
At a more advanced level the 35mm film became the first choice for professionals and serious amateurs. The Japanese SLR camera almost completely took over the professional market by the end of the 1960s.
Many keen amateurs were moving from prints to 35mm slides in the '60s. The slide show became a popular after dinner party entertainment. Another technological innovation was taking the popular market by storm at the end of the sixties - instant cameras. The Polariod Swinger became a symbol of the decade.
