Possible to convert video to smaller size in QuickTime?

[HandyMac]

I've downloaded a short video from a website. It's in .mp4 format, 1280x720, 5.5MB. I'd like to reduce its display size 50% to 640x360. I have several similar videos from the same site that are 640x360, ~3.5MB. Apparently I've done this reduction somehow before (or maybe the original downloads were smaller), but I can't figure it out now.

View menu > Decrease Size ⌘– twice reduces the video on screen to 640x360, and File > Save is active, so I tried that, but the Saved file is still 5.5MB, and when opened is still 1280x720.

I tried the Export command, 480p…, which creates a file that does open at 640x360, but it's a a .mov file, and 10.2MB, nearly twice the size of the original. Tried saving it as a .mp4, but QT says that extension can't be used.

Export > iPad, iPhone, iPod touch & Apple TV… offers to make files 16 and 40MB, which I certainly don't want.

Is there a way to reduce the display size of this .mp4 file in QuickTime (10.4, macOS 10.12) to 640x360, with a corresponding reduction in file size? I also have VLC, but have never used it.

 

[ColdCase]

Some sites give you an option to download in SD (640x360) or HD (1280x720).

I can convert a std H.264 1280x720 video to 640x360 with QT 10.4 OS 10.13 by using the export as 480p under the file menu. About a 30% reduction in file size. There may be something about the CODEC the original video is using thats giving you your results. If you open the QT movie inspector window, what are the details?

Handbrake (free) should also be able to convert the resolution for you.

 

[HandyMac]

Some sites give you an option to download in SD (640x360) or HD (1280x720).

I can convert a std H.264 1280x720 video to 640x360 with QT 10.4 OS 10.13 by using the export as 480p under the file menu. About a 30% reduction in file size. There may be something about the CODEC the original video is using thats giving you your results. If you open the QT movie inspector window, what are the details?

Handbrake (free) should also be able to convert the resolution for you.

Thanks for your response. I did find a way to do what I wanted. Yes, I figured there must be something odd about the CODEC. I know little about video, very seldom get into it. (Didn't grow up with TV, never really got the habit. Nowadays YouTube seems to be everybody's favorite medium, but I go there only when it's something I really need to see, and can't get in writing.) I know about HandBrake, which I used once some years back; didn't think of it.