720x540 vs 640x480 frame size
 

For standard definition video does it make much of a difference between choosing one or the other for the frame size using square pixels? I've seen a ton of people stand by one or the other.

I do some as 720 X 480 / 640 X 480 (sizes available in my video rendering program).
it depends, but either are generally acceptable.

lol :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Just a thought, but you may be bumping up against differences between PAL and NTSC source footage, where basically American shot content is a different size than Czech or other European sources and those sizes translate during rendering to either 640 (US) or 720 (Europe)

:2 cents:

So far all I've got are NTSC footage that has 720x480 in rectangular pixels, but I've seen forum posts where people when rendering in square pixels will change it to 720x540 or 640x480.

I could just not be understanding it clearly. I got thrust into the video editing position since we don't have one here and its pretty frustrating since I have to learn as I go.

Go with a HD compatible resolution, 1080 or 720 or 640.

This. :thumbsup
And SD: 720 or 640.

edit: nvm :upsidedow

I learn so much here... I got an answer for my problem without even asking the question.

If you are using square pixels with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.0 - as you should on a digital computer file since most media apps don't display rectangular pixels correctly- SD DV NTSC should be 640 x 480. That same SD footage was probably originally captured at 720 x 480 in the video camera with rectangular pixels. If you use 720 x 480 frame size with square pixels for your output file, your video will be distorted.