On a hot summer day, the fourth of July to be exact, my father, Claude Williams and Bob Logsdon got together with Al Hancock and signed the paperwork to purchase Hancock Camera. That was 1966, the year that Empire Camera came into existence, and a great partnership began.
Together they served the Inland Empire from a few various locations in San Bernardino.
In 1983 Bob decided to retire and sold his share to my father. It was also the year we moved our store to our present location, here in Colton and that I came to work full time for my father. Together, with the help of some very dedicated employees and family members we have brought our little family business to the present. We have become a true family business, my two brothers, a sister in-law and even my mother have put in time behind the counter serving customers.
As the trend moves from film to digital so does our business, so as well as providing cameras and photographic supplies we have a full digital imaging department, providing from image scans to CD/DVD to incredible restorations of old or damaged photos. We have the largest used camera selection in the Inland Empire and are also the only full service repair facility in the IE, working on film, digital and video equipment. We are located ¼ mi. west of the 215 and 10 interchange (that’s us, with the big camera on the roof).
We are open 9 – 6 Monday through Friday, Saturdays from
9 – 4 and Closed Sunday.
Today, my brother Keith and I take care of most of the day-to-day, dad still comes in, helping with customers and taking care of the paperwork. Between the three of us and our employees, I’m sure that we can help with all of your photographic needs. We look forward to doing business.

Tim Williams