Mac Slideshow/Image Cataloguing s/w?

I've got a little conundrum and I wonder how other people go about this simple task. I'll regularly fill my camera (Canon 450D) with images to transfer to my Powerbook G4. Maybe 400 at a time. I sync up with iPhoto with the intention of viewing them in full screen to evaluate and delete. However, in iPhoto there's no means to mark which images are keepers and which ones are deletion candidates. There's no way I could ever make a mental note of which are which whilst in Slideshow mode. Alternatively I would have to click on each image individually to view them and then delete them, which could take all day.

I've also looked at the Canon s/w that came bundled with the camera, and whilst it looks interesting there doesn't seem to be slideshow mode, which seems to be an inexcusable omission. Does Aperture of Lightroom provide this facility? Alternatively, and ideally, is there some simple shareware or freeware app that does this on a Mac? I just have a very simple requirement: the ability to view hundreds of images as a slideshow and label them by (or delete them immediately) at a keystroke without exiting the slideshow.

Anyone?

Thanks very much for any advice!

Lightroom has a slideshow mode that lets you "flag" shots for picks, rejects, etc.

Why slideshow?
I hit caps lock on my Mac, and LR will go to the next image when I hit ~ or P (pick), X (Reject) or U (no flag).

On DPP, use the Quick Select Tool (IIRC) or select all, hit Cmd+right arrow to go to "Edit image window" (will be rather slow on a G4). Cmd+up or down arrow to move, Cmd+F1, F2 or F3 for a 1, 2 or 3 label.

Faster then both, and with other capabilities: Photo Mechanic

Thanks guys. So basically I need to go and buy Lightroom. It's a shame that iPhoto doesn't have this simple feature. However I'm advised Apple's 'Preview' allows you to delete from the view pane so that might also be a cheap solution. I haven't heard of Photo Mechanic but I'll look into that now...

thanks for your help.

DPP, the Canon software, has a Check tool -- either in the browser panel or if you select a series of photos you can go to the Quick Check dialog which lets you view the photos one at a time and you can use the Check 1, Check 2 and Check 3 buttons or Alt+1, etc to mark the shots as you desire.

Then, in the browser window, you can choose View/Sort and choose a Check mark to lead the sorting. So, if you use Check 3 as your "rejects", you can View/Sort/Check 3 and they will appear leading the browing shots. Select them all and delete them. Or you can use a check for marking for the Web or printing, of course.

I'm sure there are plenty of apps who will let you flag the images for deletion or whatever. The advantage of doing this in a Raw processor is that you can move from one task to another without loading other software. I imagine Aperture has a function like this (moving from larger preview to preview and flagging as you go). Of course, Lightroom has the slide show that makes it more automated, which is what you originally asked about. Of course, LR has a number of other things that makes it a very nice program to use as well!

Brilliant, thanks for that! I've got DPP open now and have just found the Quick Check option. This is more than adequate for the task at hand. It seems like a very good program actually for something thrown in free with the camera. In fact I almost didn't bother installing it at first. Anyway, I'm happy with this for the time being, however LR sounds like it could be a very useful investment in the new year.

Thanks again for all the advice

DPP is a very good Raw converter.
Wether you like the workflow and operation seems personal: You either love it or hate it.

LR3 is a free beta now, but requires an Intel processor. So you'd need a new computer for it.
IMO, LR2 is unusably slow on a G4 (used to have a G4 1GHz, and I'm typing this on my PB G4)

I'd stick with DPP for now.