Which is the best 3D program?

[Rumour]

All 3D programs have some advantages over others, few can cover all bases on learnability, cost, ease of use, render times... and one person who swears one program is the best disagrees with another, and vice versa.

In the end, it really doesn't matter which program you're using, it's the result that matters, and so my quesiotn to you all is this:

If you had to choose between all the one's you've used and could have only one, which 3D would make the top of that list? Let us know your 3D engine of choice and why, what you love about it - we'd love to hear from you!

1. Artmatic
2. Carrera
3. Rhino
4. Maya
5. Poser
6. ZBrush
7. Cinema 4D
8. 3D Studio Max
9. Vue d'Esprit
10. Fractal programs
11. Lightwave
12. Bryce
13. Terragen
14. Any others I have missed?

[dragonfly]

you missed Imagine! which I think is stillout there and was pretty cool in it's time. For ease of use and ability to quickly do something VUEPRO. With the new 5 version out in March it should really rock. Character anim prob MAYA or MAX but Cinema4d is fast and has lovely lights - I guess i haven't decide huh. Well I use Rhino and VuePro and own Cinema4d, and a Lightwave that's got dust on it.

[redfox]

i'm a 3ds maxer! i've tried some of the others but kept stuck to 3ds
its my absolutly favorite
i love its complexity and mathematical strength. i dont like programs that put such things behind an easy-to-handle interface

[Rumour]

I've heard some good things about 3ds Max, and if I had ANY time I'd be interested in checking it out and comparing. As it is however, I should stick to what I know best, Lightwave, as what's next on my programs to learn list is Maya.:sconf: Again, when I can find the time. I haven't used much of any others, except a brief dabble with Terragen :Oogle_ani but one of these days I'll find some more time.

Probably when I'm 60 and retired. :p

[Robert_S]

Oups - hard question! I think that there must be a workflow because the programs each have best sides... I'm using photoshop since 1993 - here doesn't exist other program, but with the 3d I think its gettin hard to answer. I've tried much in Cinema 4D (at last with the new version 9.1), but I am working too with 3ds max7, maya6.5 and... modo, silo and rhino (rhino I've ordered some time ago and the nurbs modeling oportunities are great, very great!); bryce, vue, terragen and mojoworld are programs with special intentions to build landscapes and ambiente for 3d chars.... and last but not least poser with his 5th edition.


sorry: I forgot the genial ZBrush... I'm moderator on the german side...

ps: lightwave is out of my sight