Does H264 give you the best quality results for the filesize ?

[Bansaw]

I am looking to export a long timeline.
Obviously uncompressed AVI gives you thes best quality, but I am looking to export a smaller file but retain the quality.

I have found H264 (MP4) give me the best quality file for the size. (The best bang for the buck).

Do you have a different opinion?


(I am exporting from Adobe Premiere. I tried the Xvid MP4 setting but it crashed Premiere as did the 3ivx.
The problem with the H264 MP4 Premiere is creating right now is that is exports "corrupted" when it exports\
a 2hour timeline. I don't know why? Smaller timelines it exports ok.)

[edDV]

Export codec used and its settings would vary by source format and quality and the intended display. In most cases where quality preservation is a goal, h.264 will be favored. Downside of h.264 is high decode processing load. Most display devices that support h.264 have hardware decode.

Another major consideration for interlace source is choice of encoding interlace or progressive at output. This will depend on the intended display. Deinterlace is destructive but necessary for greatest compression efficiency. Many devices only accept progressive h.264.

[jman98]

I have found H264 (MP4) give me the best quality file for the size. (The best bang for the buck).

Do you have a different opinion?

Almost everybody here agrees with this.