there is provided a method of motion estimation in digital video , comprising carrying out an initial search to determine an initial search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock , carrying out a main search to determine a main search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock , carrying out a prediction search , centred on the best candidate from the initial search , to determine a prediction search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock , carrying out a first extended search , centred on the best result from the initial , main and prediction searches , to determine a first extended search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock , carrying out a second extended search , centred on the best result from the initial , main , prediction and first extended searches , to determine a second extended search best candidate motion vector for a source macroblock , and providing the second extended search best candidate motion vector to a subsequent video encoding process . there is also provided apparatus adapted to carry out the motion estimation in digital video method .