For a given bitrate, what video resolution is perceived as the highest quality?

Question

I'd like to achieve certain approximate bitrate for video encoding. If I use higher resolution like 720p, I'll get more fine-grained image, but more encoding artifacts. If I use smaller resolution like 480p, I'll get less detail and more coarse image, but higher image quality. Naturally, if the resolution is too high or too low, the result will be bad. Is there any research or information based on experience, what's the optimum resolution, given a desired bitrate and codec (in my case libx264)?

Answer 1

Wow that is a very tough question. First of all we have to consider what codec and resolution your footage is. If the acquisition footage is not good in the first place it will not look very good. Next Haven't seen 720 footage in 6 years. Most footage today is 1920X1080 so if that is what the acquisition footage is your good to go. In the United States which is NTSC still. Most of the footage I have worked with that is encoded is 1920 X 1080 and H.264. It is getting very complicated out there and most professional edit systems such as Premier have

pre sets that work just fine. Without seeing more of the what software you are using and the settings for that software and what the aqusition footage is shot originally on I can not give you much more..