VFGadgets.COM will introduce itself to the North American film and TV production community at NAB with its new Pro HD/SD Camera Viewfinder Extension Arm System.

The Toronto-based technology distributor will showcase an array of products, among them the lightweight viewfinder extension arm developed by PCI Canada (Precision Camera) that allows videographers to mount LCD monitors in any position on the camera.

VFGadgets.com made its European debut with Quantum5X’s QT-256 audio transmitter at last year’s IBC conference in Amsterdam. Athletes often wear these wireless 6 cm by 4 cm microphones during games that are broadcast on stations such as ESPN. The distributor will present the QT-256 at NAB2004 alongside other new products including The Red Eye, a super-thin wide-angle lens that can increase a camera’s angle of view by up to 30%, and PCI’s Twist Proof Camera Plate.

VFGadgets.com will also introduce the Warrendolly, designed by Canadian videographer Peter Warren. At 7.8 kilograms and able to carry the weight of an operator, the Warrendolly is being touted as compact, lightweight and durable.

Another new product conceived by Warren is the waterproof housing for Sony’s XC-555 Lipstick Camera.

Since the tiny Sony cameras are often mounted on cars and bikes for shots, Warren designed a waterproof casing to protect them from wet and muddy conditions during filming.

Ideas for products like the waterproof housing usually come from film equipment companies and rental houses that need to cater to the requests of cinematographers and videographers.

‘VFGadgets wants to encourage people with equipment ideas to come to us, and we will see if we can match them with a manufacturer,’ says Marnie Keefer, director of marketing and sales at parent company VFGadgets Inc. ‘Sim Video is a big rental house in Canada and they went to Precision Camera [to create some items], but didn’t market these products before, so they came to VFGadgets.’

Fletcher Chicago, Heavy Mood in Japan and Rotterdam’s TransTec BV are some of VFGadgets.com’s existing dealers, but the company will be looking to reel in more at NAB by offering its products at special prices until May 31.

‘Everybody’s fighting for budget,’ says Keefer. ‘We try to come out with budget-conscious equipment that offers solutions to the problems.’

-www.vfgadgets.com