[DeadJohn]

Is there any way to trigger the multi-exposure without a new shutter release after each frame?

I've reviewed the K-5 manual. I already have custom function 9 enabled for one-push bracketing but that setting doesn't help multi-exposure.

Multi-exposure gives me a single file for further processing. Alternatively, I can set the intervalometer for my 9 shots, but that fills storage faster and requires additional post processing.

[Adam]

I don't think so (it wouldn't make much sense given the creative goals of that mode). But you could do a single-press 2-frame normal bracketing sequence.

[automorphism]

You can always try a flash that triggers multiple flash bursts in one exposure like the RF60. Unfortunately that means you have to use flash, but for some applications it works.

[DeadJohn]

The application I'm thinking of is when I need a longer exposure than possible with ambient light, ND filter, minimum aperture, etc. For example, if I want a one minute exposure but conditions only allow a 10 second maximum exposure, I'd like to combine consecutive shots without needing to do 6 shutter presses.

Yes, I could stack ND filters. That hurts image quality.
Yes, I could carry every possible ND filter with me. That gets expensive and makes it difficult to travel lightly.

This isn't a big deal. I can listen and press the remote immediately after each 10 second subframe finishes. I was just hoping there was a way to automate that - the camera hardware is definitely capable of doing it, it's just that the firmware doesn't allow the option.

Note that I tried holding down the shutter release on multi-exposure. That didn't help; my K-5 forced me to lift and repress the button to fire the next shot.

[UncleVanya]

The application I'm thinking of is when I need a longer exposure than possible with ambient light, ND filter, minimum aperture, etc. For example, if I want a one minute exposure but conditions only allow a 10 second maximum exposure, I'd like to combine consecutive shots without needing to do 6 shutter presses.

Yes, I could stack ND filters. That hurts image quality.
Yes, I could carry every possible ND filter with me. That gets expensive and makes it difficult to travel lightly.

This isn't a big deal. I can listen and press the remote immediately after each 10 second subframe finishes. I was just hoping there was a way to automate that - the camera hardware is definitely capable of doing it, it's just that the firmware doesn't allow the option.

Note that I tried holding down the shutter release on multi-exposure. That didn't help; my K-5 forced me to lift and repress the button to fire the next shot.

Isn't that Image Composite mode? The K3 has that as a drive mode and it only takes a single shutter release press but it creates multiple files as I recall. But I might be misremembering.

[DeadJohn]

Isn't that Image Composite mode? The K3 has that as a drive mode and it only takes a single shutter release press but it creates multiple files as I recall. But I might be misremembering.

I'm talking about the K-5. It has a less advanced ancestor of the K-3 image composite. K-5 calls it "multi-exposure", and it's only available via the menus not the drive mode menu.

[UncleVanya]

I'm talking about the K-5. It has a less advanced ancestor of the K-3 image composite. K-5 calls it "multi-exposure", and it's only available via the menus not the drive mode menu.

Yeah I figured. I have used the k-3 feature at night. It is pretty neat.