Software programs for reducing Video file size

I am interested to know what programs people use to reduce video file size. I am currently developing an e-Learning course and want to include some avi video files I recorded from my digital camera. The problem is that they are too large for the web.

What are the best programs to perform the following tasks:

-Convert the video file format (avi/mpg/mov)
-Crop the dimensions/ reduce dimensions
-Edit the clip (in terms of starting and ending position)

I would like to hear people's exeriences in using these programs in terms of ease-of-use, functionality etc. Details of costs (of the different software) would also be of interest.

Thanks in advance, Jamie

You may want to search for DVD squeeze -> that may do what you want.

Is that DVD Shrink? That won't do it - it works specifically with VOB and BUP files - like the ones on the discs.
No - I think you want something like TMPGEnc. That encodes .mpg files. It can reduce the size of your files.
I think it depends what kind of files you're using. If you want to use .avi files - which are the smallest files (besides .wmv I think) you need to have something like VirtualDub. That's very good, but the problem there might be that you choose which codec (coder-decoder) to use and then you have to rely on people having that codec installed in their computer. I think your average person doesn't actually have the best codecs - things like divx - installed, so... I don't know. You don't want to make your users install the codec do you?

As for editing... VirtualDub is good for that and I think TMPGEnc is too.

Afterdawn is a very good site to find out about this kind of thing.
As for prices - I have no idea...