How to Take Multiple Exposures with Panasonic Lumix Cameras

Multiple exposure is one of the more interesting creative features found in some Panasonic Lumix cameras. It combines several exposures into one photograph inside the camera, without using layers or other editing tools.

Not all Lumix cameras support Multiple Exposure. I’ve used the feature on the Lumix GM1, LX100 II, and Lumix L10. The process is similar across supported cameras, although menu locations and controls vary by model.

In this article, I’ll explain how to use Multiple Exposure on Panasonic Lumix cameras, how the feature works, and the settings that affect the final photograph. I’ll also share practical tips, examples from my own photographs, and creative ideas to inspire you to experiment with multiple exposures.

How Multiple Exposure Works on Lumix Cameras

Multiple Exposure combines the brightness information from each photograph. Most Lumix cameras with this feature allow you to combine up to four exposures into a single photograph, although some older models are limited to three.

Dark or black areas contribute very little brightness to the resulting image. These areas leave room for details from another exposure to appear. Bright areas contribute more strongly and tend to remain visible in the finished photograph.

In practical terms:

• A bright subject against a black background usually creates a clean overlay.
• Dark areas in the first photograph provide space for the next subject.
• Bright areas in both photographs can build up and become washed out.
• Midtones, colors, and details mix where the photographs overlap.

A dark area is not technically erased or replaced. It simply contributes very little brightness to the combined photograph. This allows brighter parts of another exposure to show through.

When composing the next exposure, try to position its important details over a dark portion of the previous photograph. Placing them over a bright sky or another highlight will usually make them harder to see.

How strongly the exposures combine also depends on the Auto Gain setting. With Auto Gain enabled, the camera adjusts the combined brightness to help prevent overexposure.

Multiple Exposure is different from HDR, exposure bracketing, and Live View Composite. HDR and exposure bracketing normally involve different brightness levels of the same scene. Multiple Exposure is designed to combine different photographs or compositions.

Which Lumix Cameras Support Multiple Exposure?

Multiple Exposure is not included on every Panasonic Lumix camera, and its availability does not necessarily follow the age or price of the camera.

For example, the older Lumix GM1 supports up to four exposures, Auto Gain, and RAW Overlay. The LX100 II and L10 also offer these capabilities. However, Multiple Exposure does not appear in the operating instructions for some newer models, including the S9 and G9 II.

The contrast between the GM1 and S9 is particularly interesting. The GM1 is a tiny camera released many years ago, yet it includes a fairly complete Multiple Exposure implementation. The S9 is a much newer camera built around creative photography and in-camera looks, but it does not appear to offer the same feature.

If you’re unsure whether your Lumix camera supports Multiple Exposure, download its full operating instructions and search for “Multiple Exposure.” Make sure you’re searching the advanced or full manual rather than just the basic operating guide.

Lumix Multiple Exposure Settings

The names and menu locations vary between camera generations, but the main controls are similar.

Auto Gain

Auto Gain determines how the camera handles brightness when combining exposures.

With Auto Gain ON, the camera automatically adjusts the brightness of the combined exposures. This is generally the easiest setting for a first attempt because it reduces the likelihood of the accumulated exposures becoming too bright.

With Auto Gain OFF, the exposures are superimposed without automatic brightness balancing. This can produce brighter and more dramatic results, but it also increases the risk of washed-out highlights. Negative exposure compensation may help control the brightness.

In my testing, I preferred the results with Auto Gain ON. The photographs had better-balanced brightness, while the results with Auto Gain OFF were less pleasing. I recommend starting with Auto Gain ON, although experimenting with both settings is a good way to understand how they affect the finished photograph.

Overlay

The Overlay setting allows you to begin a multiple-exposure sequence using an existing RAW photograph on the memory card.

This provides more flexibility than having to capture all the exposures in succession. You could photograph an architectural subject in the morning and later combine it with reflections, foliage, lights, or moving people.

You can also use RAW Overlay to experiment with several different combinations using the same starting photograph.

Panasonic specifies that Overlay works with RAW photographs created by the same camera. Do not assume that a RAW photograph taken with one Lumix model will work on another.

How to Create a Multiple Exposure on a Panasonic Lumix Camera

The process for creating multiple exposures is essentially the same across supported Lumix cameras. The main differences are where you’ll find the feature in the camera menus and the maximum number of exposures you can combine.

Here are the steps to create a multiple exposure on Panasonic Lumix cameras:

1. Switch the camera to a photo shooting mode that supports Multiple Exposure. Program (P), Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S), and Manual (M) modes are generally good choices.
2. Select Multiple Exposure from the appropriate camera menu or My Menu if you’ve added it there.
3. Choose Auto Gain ON or OFF. I recommend starting with Auto Gain ON.
4. Set Overlay to OFF if you want to capture all the exposures in succession. Set Overlay to ON if you want to start with an existing RAW photograph on your memory card. If you plan to use RAW Overlay, make sure you’ve captured your starting photograph in RAW format.
5. Select Start.
6. Compose and capture the first exposure, or select the existing RAW photograph if using Overlay.
7. Review the image and select one of the available options:
   • Next: Continue to the next exposure when you’re satisfied with the photograph you’ve just captured.
   • Retake: Discard the most recent exposure and photograph it again if you’re unhappy with the composition or results.
   • Exit: Finish the multiple exposure and save the combined photograph without using the remaining available exposures.
8. If you selected Next, compose and capture the next exposure, using the previous image as a guide.
9. Continue photographing and selecting Next, Retake, or Exit as needed until you’re satisfied with the combination or reach the camera’s maximum number of exposures.

Tip: Add Multiple Exposure to My Menu

If you plan to use Multiple Exposure regularly, I recommend adding it to My Menu for quicker access on cameras that support this customization. Multiple Exposure generally isn’t available as a Quick Menu assignment, so My Menu is a convenient way to avoid navigating through the full Photo menu each time.

As you compose each additional exposure, pay attention to where its brighter areas will appear in the combined photograph.

Look for dark areas in the existing image where the brighter portions of the next subject can remain visible.

I recommend beginning with two exposures. It’s easier to understand how brightness and placement interact before adding a third or fourth photograph.

Multiple Exposure Examples and Creative Ideas

One of the enjoyable aspects of Multiple Exposure is experimenting with combinations that would be difficult or impossible to capture in a single photograph.

Here are a few approaches worth trying with a Lumix camera.

Rotating the Camera Between Exposures

One of my favorite examples was photographed at Mount Rushmore using the Panasonic Lumix GM1.

I photographed the monument normally for the first exposure, then turned the camera upside down for the second photograph.

The open sky helped separate the two views, while the surrounding pine branches framed the resulting composition.

It’s a simple technique that produces an unusual photograph without requiring extensive processing afterward.

Combining Autumn Leaves and Foliage

Autumn leaves provide an opportunity to experiment with color, shape, and overlapping patterns.

I used the Panasonic Lumix L10 to create a multiple exposure of colorful autumn leaves. The overlapping exposures combined recognizable leaves with softer areas of color, creating an almost impressionistic effect.

The photograph illustrates how Multiple Exposure can produce something more abstract than a traditional photograph while still retaining recognizable details.

Another approach is to photograph the same tree or branch from different angles, allowing the leaves and colors to overlap in different ways.

Combining Sharp Details with Movement

Another approach is to capture a sharp first exposure and introduce intentional camera movement during the second.

For example, you could photograph a sharp woodland scene, then move the camera vertically during the next exposure to create streaks of color.

The resulting photograph combines recognizable details with a more abstract interpretation of the scene.

Combining a Subject with a Texture or Pattern

You can also use Multiple Exposure to create patterns by combining different views of the same subject.

I experimented with this technique using pink flowers and the Panasonic Lumix L10. By overlapping exposures of the flowers, I created a photograph with repeated shapes, translucent petals, and layers of color.

This approach works particularly well with subjects that have interesting shapes or repeating patterns.

Other possibilities include tree bark, foliage, reflections, architectural patterns, or other repeating shapes. You can also combine two different subjects, using the texture of one to add visual interest to the other.

Practical Tips for Better Lumix Multiple Exposures

A few simple techniques can make experimenting with Multiple Exposure easier.

• Start with two exposures. It’s easier to see how photographs combine before introducing additional images.
• Look for dark backgrounds. Bright subjects against black or deep shadow often produce cleaner combinations.
• Pay attention to overlapping highlights. Bright areas in both photographs can compete with each other or become washed out.
• Experiment with Auto Gain. I generally prefer Auto Gain ON, but trying both settings will help you understand how they affect the final photograph.
• Use negative exposure compensation when necessary. This is particularly helpful when Auto Gain is OFF.
• Try RAW Overlay. It allows you to build on an existing photograph rather than capturing every image at once.
• Use Retake when a composition isn’t working. It’s easier to correct an exposure during capture than to discover a problem afterward.
• Know when to stop. Adding more exposures doesn’t necessarily produce a better photograph.

One of the advantages of creating multiple exposures directly in camera is the immediate feedback. You can experiment with different compositions and see how the photographs interact without moving to a computer.

Final Thoughts

Multiple Exposure is one of those creative camera features that’s easy to overlook. Its availability across the Lumix lineup is inconsistent, but cameras that support it provide a convenient way to combine photographs without relying on editing software.

The basic process is straightforward. Once you understand how brightness interacts between exposures and become familiar with Auto Gain and RAW Overlay, you can concentrate on experimenting with different subjects and compositions.

Whether you’re combining autumn foliage, rotating your camera between exposures, or using an existing RAW photograph as the starting point, Multiple Exposure offers another way to approach familiar subjects creatively.

If your Lumix camera supports the feature, it’s worth spending some time experimenting with it. You may discover interesting photographic possibilities that you wouldn’t have considered when making a single exposure.

Want to Learn More?

• How to Create Multiple Exposures on OM System and Olympus Cameras
• Field Testing the Panasonic Lumix L10 for Macro Photography
• How to Easily Create Your Own Photography Style with Lumix Lab’s Magic LUT