im looking for a 3d software to do modeling and realistic rendering. but cant afford the super expensive 3ds max or maya. i was thinking of carrara. anyone got any experience with carrara?  or suggestions on somthing compareable in price?

Carrara is a great (but very slow) renderer.  It's rendering is better than its modeling.  Carrara has great texturing but very basic UVmapping.  Plugins for it are very low price and add a lot to Carrara's features.  It's Poser 6 (and earlier) and ZBrush 2 friendly.

I say try (the demos) Cinema 4D and LightWave 3D. Both are great, affordable mid-end programs.

There are many demos to try, and I would suggest using the demos before you buy.  Lots of programs look great, but end up frustrating you with counter-intuitive workspaces.  There's nothing worse than knowing exactly HOW to model something, but find you can't because you either can't find the tool, or can't move the view around efficiently enough to do it!  So try any software you're thinking about buying first before making a decision.

I got very good deals on Hexagon 2 (through the Platinum club on DAZ), Shade 8 (through Content Paradise), but I find myself liking other packages better because I can actually move the window around without a lot of headaches.  So I now have what would be considered a collection of very expensive programs (had I not gotten the deals or upgrades) that I don't like to use.

I would think of a very basic modeling excersize, like making a pair of dice, and try to do it in each of the demos.  Note how long it takes you to find and use the tools needed to do this in each package.  That might give you an idea if a particular piece of software would be useful to you.

Also consider how much helpful support you'd get for each program you consider.  The Cinema 4D forum here is very useful, but Shade's section doesn't have a lot of traffic.  And Hexagon doesn't even have one!  It always helps to get started in a new program if you have somewhere to go to ask all those fiddly little questions.

And for the record, I would advise against Carrera.  It's been years since I've used it, but even back then it was used more for rendering scenes created in other modeling programs.  I wouldn't consider it a useful modeling tool.

I like Wings3D for modelling an Vue for rendering.

Here is one I have been eyeing.

http://www.nevercenter.com/silo/silo_20_beta/press_release/

Hope this helps.

Shade renders nicely, and is a modelling software.

Truespace vers4 has been included on a few magazine cover CDs.

Wings is a great free program. So gettign tha tis a no brainer then you can get soemthign else too. But wings is very good there are lots of peopel who use high end apps who do the bulk of their modeling in Wings. I have Hexagon and AC3D but still do the bulk of my modeling in Wings. Silo is pretty good too so I think that woudl be a great choice it is not so expensive but there are pleanty of pros who use it.

yes i have wings and love it!! but i want a all round package and i think ill get carrara 5. thanks to all for the info verry helpfull. danno i love you organic wings 3d models wish i could figure out how to do that lol!

Attached Link: http://blender.org

I didn't figure out wings myself. But blender was better for me.

Another thougth is PMG messiah. And then get yourself a good modeler or just download wings. Messiah is an excellent renderer and has bones morphs and a lot of renderign and animation tools and is pretty speedy. You will have to get a modelign package because it does nt model but wings is excellent and free. silo is cheap too. Just a thought.

I love Rhino3D, personally :)
I just can't "think" in poly-modelling ways, I think in curves, hehe.

Rhino3D appears awesome. I downloaded the demo but too expensive for an hobbyist... I only have so much money for my hobbies so do I spend it on updating a few parts on my 1960 Vette, computer hardware upgrade (have three computers), newer digital camera (I really want a DSLR), or a $800.00 3D modeller....???

well, you could take a course at college or something, qualify for the educational version? :)

Cinema4D ver 6 CE has been included on a few magizine cd covers... It's an awesome modelling app and very intuitive....

I'm with Tobak30.  I started using Blender about 6 months ago, and you can't pry me away from it with a crowbar!  The price is right:  FREE downloadable, open source software.  If you want to see the kinds of things you can do with it, there's a Blender 3D gallery here at Renderosity.  Check it out.  Once you get to the gallery, there's a link to the Blender website.  I found the learning curve to be pretty steep, but this is the first time I've done any computer art, so I may not be the best one to ask.  There are lots of tutorials available, and it's being used by everybody from newbies like me to professionals doing animation.

Did I mention it's FREE?