Modo is my fave because it has a full set of poly modeling tools while supporting symmetry.
There are many high end modeling applications but very few support symmetrical modeling. Instead they insist that you model just one half of your model and then manually mirror it. It can be difficult getting the proportions right when modeling just one half of a model.
I don’t think easiest really works. Different tools suit different artists, just like painting where you have watercolour, acrylics, oils, gouache, alkyd, tempera etc.Usually an artist will find one which handles in a way they feel most comfortable and will like the best.
It’s the same with 3D apps. I like 3ds Max and Silo best and dislike Maya and Lightwave for modeling. Curious about XSI but never had the opportunity to use it. (Was impressed with Softimage CAT for 3dsmax so XSI interests me if it has modeling tools anything like CAT is for animation)
I tried modo when I was looking for something to use on the Mac other than Maya but MUCH preferred Silo (perhaps because it felt more familiar to 3ds max)
I tried a number of 3D modelling packages and ended up using Wings 3D because I found it very easy to use, that is in part because it cannot do as much as many other packages, but also because I found the context-sensitive right-click menus really easy to get on with.
Any package is going to take a rather large investment in time to learn. 3d Modeling is not an intuitively easy task, and if you’re finding it easy, you’re probably doing it wrong. Find a program and stick with it. Follow all the tuts you can, get books, and practice.
Also, traditional drawing from life is paramount to being a decent modeler. Even if you just want to make simple art, drawing teaches us to observe, and you can’t create anything without first having observed something. Draw simple things around you like fruit, your computer, furniture, etc., to get a taste for form and an eye for observation.
I personally use and love Blender, but it may not be the best for you given what I’ve gathered from your other posts - that being you’re new to all this (and thats okay! no judgments here - gotta start somewhere.) Blender is wonderful for how much it can do, but it’s documentation is lacking, and it’s forever a moving platform - that is, it’s constantly evolving, and it’s in the middle of a huge transition for which examples and tutorials become outdated quickly.
So to reiterate, just pick something and learn. Most of your learned skills will transfer over later if you ever decide to change apps.
3d Max is pretty easy to learn. The GUI is quite straight forward.
Actually come to think of it, Gmax was the first ever 3d app I used. Thats probably why I found 3ds Max so easy because Gmax is based off it.
With 3ds Max you will have a very large user base which also means a lot of tutorials, books and websites to help you. When I tried some of the smaller 3d packages I noticed it’s easy to run into situatios where you know with 3ds max you could do this and that and you cannot find a similar tool from that other software.
3d max is PC only, so if you are dev for iOS (iphone) and you will need to be working on a mac. If this is not the case then id say go 3d max. If you want to export iOS and therefor your unity requires a mac, try out maya.
either way when you 1st get a software, take time to do the starting tutorials that come with the program. Also using the help menu as a bible is ideal, whenever you have a question hit F1 or go to the help menu, do a simple search, and youll likely find your answer.