A method and apparatus for image data compression is disclosed. According to one embodiment, image data may be received at a digital video camera having an encoder and a transmitter. The encoder of the digital video camera may be used to compress the image data into an encoded information stream capable of carrying at least 8.5 frames/second in which no frame depends on a previous frame by performing intra frame encoding. The transmitter may transmit the encoded information stream from the digital video camera to a computer system via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) while consuming no more than approximately 4 Mbits/second of USB bandwidth.