Video Formats & Codecs: What Every Videographer Should Know

Understanding video formats and codecs

In modern video production, understanding video formats and codecs is just as essential as mastering your camera or lighting.

Image courtesy of mpb.com

Whether you’re producing cinematic wedding films, luxury real estate tours, branded corporate videos, or aerial drone reels, the format you shoot in, and how you deliver it affects everything from image quality and file size to editing speed and playback compatibility.

As video technology advances, with higher resolutions, dynamic range, and frame rates becoming the norm, choosing the right file format is no longer just a technical preference, it’s a professional decision. The right choice streamlines your workflow, protects visual quality, and ensures your final product looks great on any platform.

Containers vs. Codecs: Know the Difference

When someone asks what format your video is in, they’re often mixing up two things: the container and the codec. The container is the file extension you see, like; .mp4, .mov, or .mkv. It holds the video, audio, and metadata. The codec (short for coder-decoder) is the engine that compresses and decompresses the video itself. Popular codecs include H.264, HEVC, and AV1.

The same container can hold different codecs, which is why two .mp4 files may behave very differently in editing or playback. That’s why understanding the combination is essential for anyone working with professional video.

Most Common Containers in Use Today

• .mp4 – The universal standard for delivery, streaming, and mobile use. Lightweight and highly compatible.
• .mov – Preferred in professional editing environments, especially on Apple systems. Often used with ProRes or HEVC.
• .mkv – Flexible and open-source, commonly used for high-efficiency codecs or custom workflows.
• .mxf – Used in professional capture and broadcast environments where metadata integrity is crucial.

Key Codecs for Modern Production

• H.264 (AVC) – The most widely used codec, ideal for web delivery, social media, and preview files.
• HEVC (H.265) – A newer standard that provides better compression and quality than H.264. Great for 4K, HDR, and high-resolution footage.
• AV1 – An open-source codec with excellent compression efficiency. Increasingly supported across browsers, devices, and streaming platforms.
• ProRes / DNx – Intermediate codecs used in professional editing workflows. Preserve quality and enable fast performance during post-production.

How to Choose the Right Workflow

1. Capture – Record in the highest-quality format your camera supports. This is often ProRes, H.265, or even RAW.
2. Edit – Use an intermediate codec if necessary. Transcoding large compressed files into ProRes or DNxHD can improve performance and stability.
3. Deliver – Choose a codec that matches your client’s needs. H.264 in .mp4 is widely accepted. Use HEVC or AV1 for higher resolutions or better compression.
4. Archive – Always keep your original camera files, and consider exporting a high-quality master file for long-term storage.

Best Practices for Format Selection

• Use H.264 in .mp4 for maximum compatibility.
• Deliver in HEVC for high-resolution projects where file size is a concern.
• Start experimenting with AV1 if you want to future-proof your delivery pipeline.
• Avoid excessive recompression, each generation of export can introduce quality loss.
• Back up all original footage and export masters in multiple locations/formats.

Looking Ahead

The industry continues to push forward with even more efficient and flexible codecs. Formats like VVC (H.266) and JPEG XS are on the horizon for ultra-high-definition, immersive content, and AI-enhanced workflows. But for now, the balance of compatibility, compression, and quality lies firmly in using H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and AV1 wisely.

The Final Takeaway

Choosing the right video format is part of your creative and technical identity. It defines how you work, how your content looks, and how smoothly your projects move from camera to client. Take control of your formats. Learn what works.

Build a workflow that supports your best possible work on every shoot, on every screen, every time.