Maya or 3ds Max

[gir1dhar]

Hello,
I'm starting my journey as a 3d modeler/ animator, I always liked 3d design, I used to play with PovRay a long time ago but a lot has changed since. Right now I have the opportunity to work with a 3d designer, and he left me to choose which tool to use. 3ds Max or Maya. I've been checking both, but can't decide. Both seem incredibly nice. It looks like both are up to any task at hand.
I don't want to start a flame war, I just want to know where each shine, whats easier to do in each, what should avoid in each.

Best Regards

[foxid]

In my opinion - Maya is better for animation, max is better for interiors/exteriors. I`m 6 years MAX user, but now Ive started to study Maya.

[radiance]

since i never really used either of them, i can't add much,
but i do agree 3ds max for architecture/interor/product viz and maya for special FX / film / cartoon.

Radiance

[[gk]]

Both apps have been heavily used in feature films both for building meshes, rendering particles and rendering in general.

Maya having 3dlight/render man hooks where 3dsmax has assets suitable for architectural quick fix solutions as well as fumefx and krakatoa to name a few plugs.

[cpember]

maya is deadly for anim and large scale shows, but for practicality you need a truckload of td's and programmers to get the most from it.. max is the ninja application and VERY fx oriented (we use pretty much everything here on a vast scale and have devs for both) Max also has the most 3rd party developers of any of the applications. If I were to get into the industry for the first time again, I'd go the learn maya route ONLY because it's so widely used, but I wouldnt discount max at all, it's VERY versatile.

cheers

cp

[gir1dhar]

Thank you all, I think I'll go for Max. I can always learn maya later


Best Regards
gir1dhar