Multiple Exposures

You can shoot multiple (2–9) exposures to merge into a single image. In Live View shooting, you can see in real time how the exposures are merged when you shoot multiple-exposure images.

  1. Select [Shooting: Multiple exposure].

  2. Set [Multiple exposure].

    • Select an option, then press SET.
    • To exit shooting multiple exposures, select [Disable].

    • On:Func/Ctrl

      Convenient when shooting multiple exposures gradually as you check the results. During continuous shooting, the continuous shooting speed will decrease greatly.

    • On:ContShtng

      Used for continuous multiple exposures of moving subjects. Continuous shooting is possible, but the following operations are disabled during shooting: menu screen viewing, image review after capture, image playback, and undo last image ().

      Note that the single exposures used for merging are discarded, and only the multiple-exposure image is saved.

  3. Set [Multi-expos ctrl].

    • Select a merging option, then press SET.

    • Additive

      The exposure of each single image captured is added cumulatively. Based on [No. of exposures], set negative exposure compensation. Follow these basic guidelines to set the exposure compensation amount.

      Exposure compensation setting guidelines, by number of exposures

      Two exposures: –1 stop, three exposures: –1.5 stops, four exposures: –2 stops

    • Average

      Based on the [No. of exposures], negative exposure compensation is set automatically as you shoot multiple exposures. If you shoot multiple exposures of the same scene, the exposure of the subject's background will be automatically controlled to obtain the standard exposure.

    • Bright/Dark

      Brightness (or darkness) of the base image and added images is compared at the same position, and bright (or dark) portions are retained. Some overlapping colors may be mixed, depending on the relative brightness (or darkness) of the images.

  4. Set [No. of exposures].

    • Select the number of exposures, then press SET.

  5. Specify the images to save.

    • To save all single exposures and the multiple-exposure image, select [All images] and press SET.
    • To save only the multiple-exposure image, select [Result only] and press SET.

  6. Set [Continue Mult-exp].

    • Select an option, then press SET.
    • With [1 shot only], multiple-exposure shooting will be canceled automatically after the shooting ends.
    • With [Continuously], multiple-exposure shooting continues until the setting in step 2 is set to [Disable].

  7. Shoot the first exposure.

    • When [On:Func/Ctrl] is set, the captured image will be displayed.
    • The multiple-exposure shooting icon blinks.
    • You can check the number of remaining exposures, as displayed at right in the viewfinder or on the screen (1).
    • Pressing the Playback button enables you to view the captured image ().

  8. Shoot the next exposures.

    • Images captured so far are displayed merged in Live View shooting. For only Live View image display, press the INFO button repeatedly.
    • To view the multiple-exposure image so far, check exposure, and see how the images will be merged, hold down the depth-of-field preview button (or the button assigned to [Depth-of-field preview] in [Custom Functions6: Custom Controls] ) in Live View shooting.
    • Multiple-exposure shooting will end when the set number of exposures are taken.

Note

  • With [On:Func/Ctrl], you can press the Playback button to view the multiple-exposure image so far or delete the previous single exposure ().
  • As shooting information, the multiple-exposure image has information captured for the last shot.

Caution

  • The image quality, ISO speed, Picture Style, high ISO speed noise reduction, color space, etc. set for the first single exposure will also be set for the subsequent exposures.
  • If [Shooting: Picture Style] is set to [Auto], [Standard] will be applied for shooting.
  • With [On:Func/Ctrl] and [Additive] set, any noise, irregular colors, banding, or similar issues affecting images displayed as you shoot may look different in the final multiple-exposure image.
  • With multiple exposures, the more exposures there are, the more noticeable the noise, irregular colors, and banding will be.
  • Image processing after you finish shooting multiple exposures takes longer when [Additive] is set (which causes the access lamp to be illuminated longer).
  • Brightness and noise of the multiple-exposure image captured in step 8 will be different in the resulting multiple-exposure image.
  • Multiple-exposure shooting is canceled if you set the power switch to Power off, replace batteries or cards, or switch to movie recording.
  • Switching to Custom shooting mode 1, Custom shooting mode 2, or Custom shooting mode 3 shooting mode ends multiple-exposure shooting in progress.
  • If you connect the camera to a computer, multiple-exposure shooting will not be possible. If you connect the camera to a computer during shooting, multiple-exposure shooting will end.

Merging Multiple Exposures with a RAW Image Recorded on the Card

You can select a RAW image recorded on the card as the first single exposure. The selected RAW image will remain intact.

  1. Select [Select image for multi. expo.].

  2. Select the first image.

    • Turn the Quick Control Dial dial to select the first image, then press SET.
    • Select [OK].
    • The file number of the selected image will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Take the picture.

    • When you select the first image, the number of remaining exposures as set with [No. of exposures] will decrease by 1.

Caution

  • JPEG/HEIF images cannot be selected.
  • These images cannot be selected as the first single exposure: images shot with [Shooting: Highlight tone priority] set to [Enable] or [Enhanced], or images with cropping information.
  • [Disable] is applied for [Shooting: Lens aberration correction] and [Shooting: Auto Lighting Optimizer], regardless of the settings of the image selected as the first single exposure.
  • The ISO speed, Picture Style, high ISO speed noise reduction, color space, etc. set for the first image will also be applied for the subsequent images.
  • If Picture Style is [Auto] for the image selected as the first image, [Standard] will be applied for shooting.
  • You cannot select an image taken with another camera.
  • Images that cannot be merged may be displayed.

Note

  • You can also select a RAW image used in multiple-exposure shooting.
  • Select [Deselect img] to cancel image selection.

Checking and Deleting Multiple Exposures During Shooting

To view the multiple-exposure image so far, check exposure, and see how the images are layered, you can press the Playback button before you finish shooting your specified number of exposures (when [On:Func/Ctrl] is set, but not with [On:ContShtng]).

Pressing the Erase button will display the operations possible during multiple-exposure shooting.

Operation Description
Return Return to previous screen The screen before you pressed the Erase button will reappear.
Undo last image Undo last image Deletes the last image you shot (enabling you to replace it by shooting again). The number of remaining exposures will increase by 1.
Save and exit Save and exit

With [Save source imgs: All images], saves all single exposures and the multiple-exposure image created so far and exits multiple-exposure shooting.

With [Save source imgs: Result only], saves only the multiple-exposure image created so far and exits multiple-exposure shooting.
Exit without saving Exit without saving Exits the multiple-exposure shooting without saving the image.

Caution

  • During multiple-exposure shooting, you can only play back multiple-exposure images.

Troubleshooting FAQ

  • Are there any restrictions on the image quality?

    All single exposures and the multiple-exposure image are captured at your specified image quality.

  • Can I merge images recorded on the card?

    With [Select image for multi. expo.], you can select the first single exposure from the images recorded on the card (). Note that you cannot merge multiple images already recorded on the card.

  • How are multiple-exposure files numbered?

    With the camera set to save all images, multiple-exposure image files are named with the next number after the number of the last single exposure used to create them.

  • Will auto power off take effect during multiple-exposure shooting?

    During multiple-exposure shooting, auto power off will not take effect. Note that before you start multiple-exposure shooting, auto power off automatically takes effect at the time set in [Set-up: Auto power off], which will cancel multiple-exposure shooting.