Silo has one of the best modeling reputations around, and is only about $100
http://www.nevercenter.com

I don't know anything about either of these:
http://www.cbmodelpro.com (described as a "poor man's zbrush")
http://www.blacksmith3d.com (cool name)

Post your own links to free or cheap 3D software. I'm particularly interested in renderers and texturers.

i'm surprised no one has mentioned "Blender". http://www.blender.org/ this is an open source, freebie. it's been around for a while now.

and if you're interested in ID software (games like Wolfenstein, Doom, etc, etc.) there are 3d editors, free, for those. the one that sticks in my mind that i've used on occasion is, gtkradiant. i believe this is the current address of the official release from ID software. oh, it's open source too: http://www.qeradiant.com/

you'd be surprised how good a 'game' editor can be.

Hi Kraelin,

Thanks for the feedback on software. I will check out the GTKradiant. I have never heard of that one.

Steve

i'm surprised no one has mentioned "Blender". http://www.blender.org/ this is an open source, freebie. it's been around for a while now.

and if you're interested in ID software (games like Wolfenstein, Doom, etc, etc.) there are 3d editors, free, for those. the one that sticks in my mind that i've used on occasion is, gtkradiant. i believe this is the current address of the official release from ID software. oh, it's open source too: http://www.qeradiant.com/

you'd be surprised how good a 'game' editor can be.

steve,

just in case there's any confusion, gtkradiant is specific to certain ID software games. it's dependent on the game engines to run the whole 3d environment. in other words, you're not going to export what you make in it to the web or some other 3d software. but it IS a 3d modeler and IS free.

on the other hand, i do seem to remember that you can import some 3d file types INTO gtkradiant for use within the game.

Animation Master is very affordable and also a very robust 3D software package.

http://www.hash.com/2007web/

Daz Studio

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/software/studio/-/?

Comes with some models and can export to U3D format compatible with the new 3d layers in Photoshop CS3 Extended

Christine

AC3D www.inivis.com
A nice sub-division modeling package -$74.95
Has 3D mice and Google Earth support