Technical query to experts as I'm curious here

Hi folks
Messing around with DVD's (standard - not Blu Rays) and trying various ripping programs why is a "Bog standard" DVD file so large -- often around 8GB for an approx 2 Hour movie.

Using various "rippers" I can get quality both audio and video where you'd almost need a lupe to see the difference between the original DVD and the ripped version. I love good photography and still use professional grade DSLR's so I know about Image quality and file sizes too.

Typically using say Handbrake as the standard for ripping a basic commercial PAL DVD (720 X 576) with HQ audio passthru and subtitles for a 2 hour video the file compresses to around 1.4GB instead of nearly 8GB.

My ripped version is in mkv format H-264 -- the extra processing time to get a slightly smaller file with H-265 isn't worth it in the case of "bog standard" DVD's -- Blu Ray's though might be another issue.

Here's my Handbrake settings which give excellent results and don't take too long even on an old laptop. Size of file for 46 min episode - approx 650 MB so 4 episodes on the disk - 2.6 GB instead of 8 GB. I could probably compress further but 2.6GB for pretty well identical quality as the original seems an excellent saving !!!. I'm using large TV's so getting the maximum quality on DVD's which are low res by todays standards is more important than if watching on a small TV / laptop screen or mobile phone.



OK I'm missing menus but that can't consume that much extra space and I've no problems with chapters etc. (Handbrake can convert commercial DVD's - you need the "decrypter dll" on windows though unless you copy DVD to its iso format on HDD with something like makemkv and then rip the iso with Handbrake).

So why are DVD's so wasteful of potential space.

I'd imagine a similar scenario with Blu Rays but I don't have any of those to test though.

So all you Engineers out there -- any reasons for this.

Cheers
jimbo