qualitywise, bit-per-bit, mpeg4 or mpeg2?

[mmoalem]

hi there all - hope i'm sending this to the right forum...
here's my question (and it might bea damb one so please excuse me if so): now that i'm a proud owner of a new dvd writer i was wondering what codec to use from now on... putting aside issues of competability etc (i'm playing my videos through a computer dvd-rom) - if i was to put one or two films on a dvd which codec should i use (assuming same size final video file and keeping the audio untouched)? mpeg2 or an mpeg4 based one like divx? - in otehr words, bit per bit which compression gives better quality?
cheers
michel

[DigitAl56K]

MPEG4 Video will give you better quality at low bitrates than MPEG2 Video, therefore you will probably want to go with MPEG4 (DivX).

If you have ever ripped a DVD you will probably know that to maintain a high quality in MPEG2 for a feature length film you're probably going to need 4 or 5 gigs. DivX/MPEG4 can normally acheive equivelent quality in a quarter of the space or less. I certainly wouldn't want to try fitting more than one full movie on a DVD in MPEG2.

Also, you can now buy DivX Certified DVD players that can play DivX AVI files burnt to a regular data cd/dvd.

[sh03z]

(My opinion, could be wrong)

I believe Mpeg2 is much better for music videos and shit like that, another words things off TV and not DVD...

Mpeg4, XviD or DivX, give better quality per meg for DVDs...

Only thing is DivX and XviD can't be played on most standalone DVD players, SVCD (mpeg2) can be played on them...

Totally depends on what your doing, don't use the same thing for everything...