the best thing you can do is try free software like Maya personal learning edition or lightwave dicovery. There are also programs that are given away for free if you keep a lookout. Realsoft 3d v4 was recently given away on a magazine cover. Try as many as you can before buying because you may take to working with one program better than another, it's better to find this out before you part with cash. You can start in 3d with NO CASH. There are lots of freebees out there . I started with copies of Vue 2, terragen and Amapi 4. All free. If you really want to spend though look for software that has good overall strengths. Lightwave in my opinion is the best value as it is a complete system with all the bells and whistles for a relatively small outlay. Cinema 4d is truly outstanding and with bodypaint becomes hard to beat. Both of these have outstanding renderers and are relatively easy to learn. good luck and don't rush into buying.