1. A method of estimating and/or compensating motion in video images, the method comprising: using a video processor to select an image segment of a given video image; using the video processor to define an asymmetric search area surrounding the image segment based on ranges of possible motion vectors for the image segment; and using the video processor to retrieve image data related to said asymmetric search area wherein to the video processor defines the asymmetric search area to have a center offset from a center of the image segment, the offset thereby defining asymmetry of said asymmetric search area, and statistically determined from an average vector of motion vectors established for one or more previous images.