Recently came across some excellent quality video clips in .wmv on a website.

Specs were: Bitrate 1563 Kbps, Size 45 MB, Length 4 mins
Tried to get similar quality, even using higher Bitrate as above, but just cant get same results. I use a DV Camcorder with 800.000 pixels and for conversion tried Windows Movie maker and Ulead Video Studio 8SE , but results were just not as good.
Anyone have any idea how to improve clip quality? Maybe different Camera (3 CCD or perhaps HD?) or different conversion program, editor, etc?

I'm not quite sure on what you are trying to convert to (.avi to .wmv?)
I use Pinnacle with my DV camera to convert to DVD format.
You can try "Super". I use it to convert most everything. It's free and works really well.
You can download it here
The page is kinda confusing. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the download link.

In my experience, how the video was processed greatly affects the quality.

For example, if you have a video recorded from a TV broadcast, it’ll be interlaced. If you don’t de-interlace it, you won’t be able to make it look very good, even at a low resolution and with all the bitrate in the world.

Same goes for a movie from a 24fps film from DVD... they add I-frames which are blends of existing frames to pad the movie out to 30fps. Well if you don’t IVTC or remove those I-frames properly, your video will be choppy.

Try using Windows Movie Maker to import the video as DV. Then try a program called Xilisoft 3GP Video Convorter 3 (or latest version if out) to put it in .wmv. It lets you rename the file enter the bitrate choose the frame rate (leave it on auto if you don't know the framerates), choose the format of the video 4:3 or 16:9 and other options as well. I use it alot and it works great.

convertxtodvd

very easy to use and includes converter, compression and burner all in one.

ive tried to download SUPER, four times each time the download has stoped with only a file less than 10MB. the web site says its 25MB. will try again late tonight.

edit// never mind i see you want better image quality convertxtodvd wont do this.