Trouble with mp4/mkv video conversion and compression

[MindController]

So with every Blu-ray that I own I have backed up to my hard drive. Usually down converting 1080p to 720p with decent settings through handbrake to still have good picture.

However, each file still ranges from 1.2 to 3.1 gigs in size.

I downloaded a video of a movie, one that I already own, that is 720p. Mr. Brooks. The video is in mkv format. However, when I look at the video settings of this particular video, the bit rate is quite a bit smaller than the videos I rip and the file size is also A LOT smaller.

I've gathered the information from MediaInfo in hopes that someone can enlighten me on, perhaps, what program was used or what settings were used to get the bit rate so tiny and, yet, the picture quality so good.

I've also included a screen shot.


MediaInfo:

Complete name : MrBrooks.mkv
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 826 MiB
Duration : 2h 0mn
Overall bit rate : 956 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2012-12-09 09:57:04
Writing application : mkvmerge v4.9.1 ('Ich will') built on Jul 11 2011 23:53:15
Writing library : libebml v1.2.1 + libmatroska v1.1.1


ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 9 frames
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Bit rate : 827 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 688 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.85:1
Frame rate mode : Variable
Original frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.039
Writing library : x264 core 125 r2200 999b753
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=9 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=827 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Default : Yes
Forced : No


Screen shot:

[Baldrick]

x264 encoder (with a gui like megui) and with a low bitrate(probably 2-pass), ultraslow preset and some tweaked settings to get decent quality.


But is it worth it to spend so much time converting and configuring encoding settings to get as small size as possible?

[MindController]

You're probably right about it not being worth it. But I just had to know what was used to for that level of quality compression. Thank you