3D modeling and animation?

[Bansaw]

I am wondering about creating 3D models to make my videos a bit more stylish.

At the moment I am pondering what software to buy.
At present I have:

* Final Cut Pro 5
* Adobe Photoshop CS2 (thinking of CS3 extended)

A few things that look good are:

* Strata 3D plug-ins (for CS3 extended)
* Adobe After effects

Does anyone have an opinion on what software is the best for creating and animating 3D images. I'd like to create a 3D model of a car (for example) and have the camera zoom and spin around it. Thats the kind of thing I'd like to do.
Final Cut Pro "Motion 3" does not seem as good as After Effects.

Any ideas?

[guns1inger]

Ore you also factoring in a new computer ? Final Cut Pro doesn't run under Windows.

You might want to look at Blender for a free 3D package with a lot of features. Quirky interface at first, but all 3D programs have a big learning curve.

[racer-x]

Another good free 3D app is OpenFX. I used it to make this cool production logo:

fog.mov (3 mb h.264/mov)

* In fact, the entire thing was made using only Free/open source s/w. I used OpenFX, Gimpshop, and Wax2. All are free..................

[Bansaw]

What about Maya? Is that the best one?
Someone told me that professionals use it.... ?

(The mov was good - if that package is free, its good. I wonder if it does texture mapping as well?)
(We have MACs here and PCs)

[mats.hogberg]

Maya is about £1.600 Another popular 3D animation/modeling app is 3D Studio Max - about £3.200
What's your budget? Like guns1inger says, there'll be a big investment in learning the application too (regardless of what you choose).

/Mats

[guns1inger]

XSI is also popular and used a lot in large studios
Houdini could also be considered