Quality comparison

[jlj1950]

Description of problem or question:
Which has a better visual quality, a blu-ray 1080p scaled down to 720p, or the same video compressed down to the same file size?

Thank you,
jlj

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[Woodstock]

Displayed on what? Using what source?

If you watch the video on a 720p monitor, the 1080p file will have compression artifacts AND will be down-scaled by the monitor. The 720p file will be down-scaled, THEN compressed, so it potentially has better "quality", on a 720p monitor.

Watch on a 1080p monitor, the 720p file will be up-scaled, which may be good or bad, depending on the player's up-scale algorithm, vs. the 1080p file being "native".

All of this is, of course, subjective, and source-dependent. A 1080p anime, for example, can be compressed as much as 90% while retaining 1080p, but taking an action-filled, high detail movie may top out at 50% reduction with minor artifacts.

If your primary viewing will be on a 1080p or larger monitor, stick with 1080p if you can. Quality matters? Start with the presets with "HQ or "Super HQ" in their names, and adjust the Constant Quality (aka "RF") value up and down. Encode short sections that you can compare.

[jlj1950]

Thank you, once again.

[mduell]

Generally maintaining resolution and increasing the RF value to get to your desired file size.

Although once the RF gets high enough (say, low 30s), then probably better dropping resolution a bit to go no higher on RF.