To Mental Ray or not to Mental Ray??

[mbr]

I currently use Max 5.1 and Final Render stage-1 for my business, but I will am working at a firm doing their 3D work also. They will need advice purchasing some software soon. Currently, all modeling and rendering is done with Form-Z. While I love the modeling, the rendering is far from the best.

 

Viz 5 seems like the best advice to give, for the money, but the problem is that I have no experience using MR. Is it worth it, for them and myself, to take the time to learn MR adequately, or should I go with the extra cash for Final Render (although I am a novice fR user, at best, but can use it to get decent images).

 

Time is money, as they say. I'd like to know it, but I already own fR, so it's not necessary. I am in no hurry to upgrade to 6, for my own things.

 

Any opinions would be helpful.

Thanks.