H.264 vs. MPEG-4 Export Advice

I'm using iMovie09, trying to get the best quality and lowest file size.
I keep getting conflicting advice so I've been runner a couple of tests.
Here are 2 test examples:
5:47 min movie
H.264 (high quality/2400kbps)= 104 MB; 52 min. to export
MPEG4 (best quality/2400kbps)= 102 MB; 10 min. to export
I couldn't tell the difference in the final movie quality.
Why should I go with H.264 if it takes so long...?
4 min movie (both were set at best quality w/ no data rate restriction)
H.264= 21min. at 57mb awesome quality
MP4= 7min. at 67mb very good quality
I guess the longer the movie, the more I like MPEG4.
See how I'm confused...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

The text book answer is you get better quality video with smaller file sizes using .264 over standard MPEG-4. The reality is YMMV depending on content, settings, and other factors as you've seen. In my own tests .264 does look better. Sometimes noticeably better, others not nearly as much. Sometimes the file size is much smaller, sometimes not so much. It depends greatly on the content and how many pixels can be tossed by the compression technology.
It's a trade off, as you've seen, as .264 requires a lot of horsepower to do what it does. I'd suggest, since you've been happy with the results of your MPEG-4 exports, that you save yourself the time and go that route.

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