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About Us

The Tools of Time Blog, operated by Camera West, combines the inspiration behind Camera West, Leica Store San Francisco, and The CW Watch Shop. Over the years, we’ve pursued our passion for the fine tools that make photography and life more enjoyable. Our shared goal is to express our collective interest in high-quality photographic tools, accessories, and watches. We also enjoy sharing the results of using these tools, from beautiful photography to stories about the tools that inspire us.

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What are “Tools of Time?”

“Tools of Time” consists of two parts. Tools are objects we use to perform tasks, such as a hammer for driving nails or a wrench for loosening bolts. They serve a purpose and primarily enable us to complete projects, a hammer enables a home builder to build a house and a camera enables a photographer to tell a story.

As photographers, by our creative nature, we are drawn to items that inspire us. These items not only serve a purpose but also drive us to create, innovate, and share stories. This is the beauty of fine photographic tools they are both tools in the base sense and serve as inspiration to accomplish the extraordinary.

The second part of the concept is “time”. Just as a hammer is a carpenter’s tool, or a wrench is a plumber’s or mechanic’s tool, cameras, lenses, and watches are tools of a timekeeper.

But who is a timekeeper? A timekeeper is someone who documents the past and present for the future. Cameras capture the present to narrate the past to the future, while watches enable us to track and keep the present time. Both tools not only tell time but also inspire us to capture time for the future.