Video format conversion involves changing the file type (like MOV to MP4) while preserving the visual and audio data. It is possible to do this without degrading quality using lossless methods. These methods avoid compression that permanently discards data, unlike standard lossy conversions (such as converting to highly compressed MP4) which always reduce quality to save space.

This technique is essential for high-end video production and archival. Editors might convert captured lossless formats like ProRes or DNxHD into an intermediate editing format without quality loss using tools like FFmpeg (ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v copy -c:a copy output.mpg). Archivists also use lossless conversion to migrate older video formats like uncompressed AVI to modern containers like MKV for long-term preservation.

The main advantage is perfect quality retention. However, the resulting files remain extremely large, often impractical for streaming or sharing. Processing can also be slower. Ethically, it prevents unnecessary generational loss but storage costs are significant. Future advancements in codecs like AV1 may offer better lossless compression ratios, but very large file sizes remain the primary limitation for widespread use.