How can multiple exposure be achieved with a digital camera?

Question

When using a film camera, it’s possible to create photographs that are the result of multiple exposures, by not winding the film on before taking the next shot. Is there a way of achieving the same result with a digital camera?

I’d like to be able to take multiple incremental shots and then either have them automatically combined in camera, or in post processing.

I know I can create a similar effect by using a long exposure, like the one below (shot with 10 second exposure), but this is quite limiting in what can be achieved and makes composition quite difficult.

Asked by forsvarir

Answer

Note that this is called multiple exposures, not incremental.

A good number of digital cameras of all sizes do this: Most Pentax DSLRs (K-5, K-7, K20D, K10D, K-r, K-x), the Pentax Q, all third generation Olympus ILCs (E-P3, E-PL3, E-PM1) plus the OM-D E-5, most mid-to-high end Nikon DSLRs (D300S, D700, D3X, D3S), the Canon 1D X, a number of Fuji ultra-zooms (like the S9000) and the Olympus ZX-1 which is the smallest camera to have this feature.

Honestly, doing this in software is extremely easy and much more flexible by using Photoshop layers (or equivalent) with various blending operators. The only time one would do it in camera is if you absolutely need to get the alignment blending exactly a certain way. This will be tedious on any camera which is not a Fuji because they are the only ones which let you undo the previous step in case it does not appear as desired.

Answered by Itai

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