What is the best program available, and cost, for making 3D models on the Mac platform? What is affordable (if different from above) and still pretty good?

Stata Studio Pro isn't that bad, I think they are giving away Strata 3D, try www.strata.com. I used Studio Pro for an animation class I taught on Macs awhile ago, it is a pretty easy program to teach yourself, compaired to some. It is not in 3D Studio Max's class, however. Never used 3D, though.

Animation Master (www.hash.com) is the best professional character animation modeller for its price ($299!), with features you'll find in a lot of high end apps.

IMO cinema 4d any version more info and demos are here www.maxon.net or uk www.hisoft.co.uk . Steve

I second Jim Burtons vote for Strata with the exception that I would use the SSP renderer over the 3DS Max renderer(s) any day of the week (IMO). And he is correct. Most (not all) of SSP is available for free from the Strata.com web site. I would caution you about using the modeling tools included. They often seem to have minds of their own. For modeling alone I would have you look at the free download of Amapi available from the TGS site. It's a wierd wierd interface but after working in it for a bit I find it is fast and very powerful. And Maya is coming for OS X (just as soon as we all win the lotery to pay for it :-> ) jje

I use Cinema4D on the Mac too. There are demo versions available at www.maxon.net, and there is a discussion group at www.postforum.com.

I prefer Carrara myself.