Hello everyone I have a big decision to make hopefully in the next month I will have the money to purchase some software. I am trying to decide between C4D 8.5 and Maya complete 6. My biggest concerns are first and formost compatibility with zbrush. Fast and the best quality rendering of still images (print) and maybe later on ease of animation.
I am still very new to 3d software and need help in making this expensive decision. I would eventually like to have some sort of career in this type of stuff and need a good start. 
If you’re new to 3D software, you really need to download as many demos as you can and play with each of them- over a fairly long period of time. Spending a ton of money on an app without having a good idea of what it is you’re getting yourself into (what you personally need, and not what someone else thinks is good) can be a recipe for disaster.
Then, after you’ve had a good play with a number of apps come back and ask more detailed questions, weighing up the pros and cons of each. Don’t limit yourself to two applications- unless you’re trying to render with Renderman (or something along those lines) compatability between applications isn’t that complex a thing. If it can load basic animation files and standard model formats, you’ll be fine.
Totally agree, look at all the apps on offer…Maya, Max, C4D, Lightwave, XSI etc, work out what you want to do with the software, which one suits you best etc, for example if you want to break into games then you would have to consider Max.
All the apps can link with ZB2, so don’t limit yourself 
Thanks guys for your responses. I am a mac user so it does limit some the 3d software I get. Not really interested in gaming and I have downloaded many demos and c4d and maya were my favorites. 3d illustration (rendering still images) interestes me the most right now. My big concern is being able to do large high res images. I have seen many images of people using c4d and zbrush and really like them, the modules and the price vs power really make me lean towards c4d but maya I guess is a more established software.The demos are somewhat limited and make the choice difficult.
I was going to get c4 bundle with the shave and a haircut plugin but when you say 3d many say maya but i can only afford maya complete so no maya hair, fur, cloth ect.
Thought c4 was more of a bang for the buck.
Still not sure though. 
Thank you all for any replys
In that case, ignore the feature set for a moment, and just focus on the one that feels the most enjoyable to use.
Personaly, I would concider holding off on your choice until after Siggraph… Maxon will be releasing C4D v9 shortly there after… maybe a month or two, I don’t really know for sure, but it is comming soon for sure…