whats the best video format

[jimmy_tango]

what makes for the best veiwing, clearer picture,etc.. .avi, .mpeg,.divx,.xvid, etc...

[FS]

I'm fairly certain best viewing and clearest picture depend solely on how compressed the quality of your movie is.

I'm not sure if there's difference into what format allows the smallest filesize (so you can preserve the most quality), but I think it might be AVI. Though all of that again might depend on what codec you're using to compress.

[liquidstatik]

I would have to agree that .avi seems to be the best. Compared to .mpegs and .wmvs i've downloaded, avis are always have a better picture and run smoother. :/

[adeptninja]

The best ones ive seen are .avi and .vob (dvd)

[Anonymous]

i'm kinda partial to xvid (avi) and mp4 (quicktime)

[ArrowX]

.avi

The bes player for anything so far Ive used is DivX

[Anonymous]

HOW HELPFUL

YOU FAT BASTARD

[McMock]

You can't compress a file as avi. Avi is just a format for packaging information about the coded used, and the file itself, together - not a codec of it's own.

I have no idea what the best one is. I'd say DVD's, which are compressed using MPEG (some number) are the best in my uninformed opinion.

[executioneer]

the best QUALITY format is uncompressed avi/VOB.
mpeg-2 is great quality, and a lot of newer dvd players will play dvds encoded with it.
mpeg-1 is shitty, but hey you can fit like 4 hours on a single layer single sided dvd and you can still play it on a dvd player a lot of the time

variable-bit-rate xvid is better quality and a lot better compression than mpeg-1 but you have to play them on a computer since there aren't any standalone players that are compatible with it. Yet. Probably won't be either.