topic Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update. in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:42:53 GMT

I have yesterday bought a Canon Eos R5 Mark II.

This high end premium camera does NOT allow to save "Multiple Exposure" as RAW files like its predecessors (e.g Eos 5D series, and even the R5 Mark I)

The "feature request" I make is to add via a Firmware update the option to save Multiple Exposures as RAW files not only for the R5 Mark II but also for other Canon cameras.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

p4pictures — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 13:00:56 GMT

The best way to make such requests is using the feedback link at the bottom of the Canon USA home page.

It is also the same for EOS R6 Mark II as demonstrated in this thread https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/EOS-R6-Mark-II-only-records-multiple-exposures-as-jpg/td-p/541341

My own EOS R6 Mark II will save the individual component parts of the multiple exposure as RAW, but the combination of the source frames results in a JPG image too.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 13:16:08 GMT

I already submitted my feedback but in order to raise awareness of the regression I posted here as well.
I speak of regression because saving "Multiple Exposure" as RAW has been possible in Canon digital cameras for over a decade.
My oldest professional Canon digital camera is the Eos 5D Mark III (released 2012)
I believe Multiple Exposure saved as RAW was also possible in previous models as well.

The R5 Mark II is one the first new Canon cameras (in more than a decade) that DO NOT allow to save Multiple Exposures as RAW.

.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:52:15 GMT

“ This high end premium camera does NOT allow to save "Multiple Exposure" as RAW files like its predecessors (e.g Eos 5D series, and even the R5 Mark I). “

When you say “multiple exposures” do you mean bracketed exposures or something like a double exposure?

IMHO, saving an image created from multiple images as a RAW file is incorrect behavior. The EXIF data becomes invalid or undefined.

A JPEG doesn’t hold as much metadata.

What time of day should be assigned to the final image of a bracketed exposure? I suppose when it was created.

What exposure setting should be recorded in the EXIF? Most bracketed exposure captures use different settings for each image.

What about double exposures? Same questions. You can create a double exposure using any image saved on the memory card.

I could take a photo last month in a different country 8000 miles away. I can combine that photo with one I capture today. The two photos can have entirely different EXIF data, ranging from different time stamps to entirely different lenses, AF settings, shooting mode, you name it. What data should be stored in the EXIF?

If you want to save a RAW file, then you should save accurate metadata. A JPEG doesn’t save nearly as much data and will often times be missing data, which is okay.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 15:37:34 GMT

Historically Canon digital cameras have allowed to save "Multiple Exposure" as RAW.

Tere's a menu entry for "Multiple Exposure" and I refer to that feature.

EXIF wise Canon choose over the years to save the "last shot" settings (shutter speed, white balance, aperture, etc..,) of the ME sequence.

They could have saved each shot settings in EXIF but that poses a challenge for RAW editing and archive.

Which data is the good one?

So for convenience the EXIF bares only the data of the last shot in the ME sequence

Is a compromise with little productivity impact.

E.g.

Frirst shot of the ME has WB at 3200

As long as every other shot was taken under the same light conditions there is little difference that can't be fixed in post.

E.g. 2

First shot of ME at WB 3200k

Last shot at 5500K

WB in post requires to be changed a bit more.

• Mtadata wise the shutter speed and aperture of the single ME final RAW only refer to the last shot of the sequence.

They are quite irrelevant as what matters is what you see on screen, the final result.

Before R5 Mark II Canon didn't have any issues with letting us save ME as CR2, CR3.

Those that used the feature know how to work.

Why change it now!

It's a loss for users only.

Accurate EXIF is not the point of doing photos.

Users have been able for over a decade to save ME as RAW, bad for Metada but fanstasitc for photography.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:26:34 GMT

“ Historically Canon digital cameras have allowed to save "Multiple Exposure" as RAW. “

We are going to have to agree to disagree.

Canon got it wrong for years, IMHO. They seem to have corrected their mistake of writing invalid or undefined metadata to the EXIF.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:41:05 GMT

Fact.

EOS 5D Mark 3 and 5DsR and even R5 (and many more cameras) allow to create a ME at chosen "Image quality" settings which includes RAW.

For 12-13 years and more the ME feature gave us that.

The request is to reintroduce ME with Image Quality RAW.

.I am waiting for the Canon team to address this.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

p4pictures — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 19:56:55 GMT

I can confirm that the EOS 5D Mark IV and also my EOS R6 (mk1) can save the multiple exposure combined file as a RAW image.

From checking the instruction manual for the EOS R7 and EOS R3 these cameras can only save the combined exposure as a JPG, and also the same for my EOS R10. So it seems that the change to JPG for the combined multiple exposure image started in 2021 with the EOS R3.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 21:39:50 GMT

“ From checking the instruction manual for the EOS R7 and EOS R3 these cameras can only save the combined exposure as a JPG, and also the same for my EOS R10. So it seems that the change to JPG for the combined multiple exposure image started in 2021 with the EOS R3. “

If the camera you are designing writes metadata to RAW files, then you have an obligation for it to be accurate and consistent with industry standards.

I regard the output of a multiple or bracketed exposure as a digital print, which by definition means JPG. In other words, the output is no longer a RAW file. The rules for metadata in a JPG are not as stringent as those for a RAW file.

Re: Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 08:43:44 GMT

What you say is nonfactual.
First of all is proprietary RAW data so Canon can do what it wants with it.
Secondly the EXIF data is totally accurate, it just bears only the "last shot" data (creationTime, aperture, WB, shutter Speed, ISO, ec...)
As I said Canon could store (in a table ???) the data of each shot that is part of the ME so nothing prevents accuracy here.

Canon Cameras have for over a decade saved ME as RAW, no ITPC/EXIF rules forbid them to do it.

• Panasonic Lumix cameras at today still allow to save RAW files when doing ME, further evidence that there is not a rule that forbids it.

Canon decided to not allow to save ME as RAW, which was possible in previous models
It can reintroduce that via Firmware as the code is already there.

.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

fighttyler — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 17:56:08 GMT

I'm also very upset that the manufacturer removed this feature. They could have added a menu option to choose the format in which to save. I like RAW. I would prefer to save in this format. JPEG doesn't have any value for me, so why does the manufacturer choose the format for me? I don't need JPEG at all. I don't like the multi-exposure feature at home on my computer; I like it in the fields, outdoors, and I want to have this feature and the ability to save in RAW right outside. IN A SINGLE FILE, NOT TWO!!!! PLEASE! EMIT A NEW FIRMWARE WHERE THIS ISSUE WILL BE CORRECTED!

PLEASE !!!!!!

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 19:55:18 GMT

“ I'm also very upset that the manufacturer removed this feature. They could have added a menu option to choose the format in which to save. I like RAW. I would prefer to save in this format. @

Canon got it wrong for years. If the camera saves a RAW file, then what data should it write to the EXIF metadata?

You can create a double exposure using any image on the memory card, even ones captured using a different lens and exposure settings compared to the photo you captured today to create the double exposure.

What exposure, lens, WB, IS and Flash status, etc, should it write to the EXIF metadata?

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

fighttyler — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:01:40 GMT

I'm taking photos, not creating EXIFs. If you need a camera for EXIFs, that's your problem. Don't decide for everyone. Other people might be taking photos with cameras.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:24:27 GMT

“ I'm taking photos, not creating EXIFs. If you need a camera for EXIFs, that's your problem. Don't decide for everyone. Other people might be taking photos with cameras. “

Let me put it this way. The camera MUST write out metadata. It should not write invalid data, because that would mean that the camera is not conforming to its own specs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif

The camera can’t leave undefined fields empty because a RAW file editor wouldn’t be able to do anything with it. The editor needs an initial set of parameters.

So, I ask again. What data should the camera write to the EXIF?

I don’t think anyone can answer that question. Like I pointed out earlier, by combining imaged the camera is creating a digital print, which means a JPG file.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 05:39:25 GMT

Read the earlier comments about EXIF

Canon could write in their proprietary RAW the relevant metadata for each single shot in the Multiple Exposure.

In the end it would be the role of the RAW editor to choose which to use BUT as of today as a convience only the last shot metadata is saved for the combined exposure.

Calming that metadata correctness is a good reason to not allow multiple exposure it is hardly sustainable.

JPEGs also have metadata (creation date, shutter speed, aperture) and yet we can create multiple exposure in that format.

Multiple Exposure for RAWs was the norm for years and years in Canon Cameras, there is even a Canon offcial blog about how great it is.

I has been removed from the latest cameras and it is our loss as photographers that relied on it for our work for all those years.

Canon has broken continuity by removing the ability to do it for RAWs but can easily reinstate it... it's purely a software thing and they have the know how.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:44:40 GMT

“

JPEGs also have metadata (creation date, shutter speed, aperture) and yet we can create multiple exposure in that format.

Multiple Exposure for RAWs was the norm for years and years in Canon Cameras, there is even a Canon offcial blog about how great it is. “

JPG files do contain mtetadata, but there’s no requirement for all the fields to contain data.

As far as what Canon DSLRs did in the past goes, those cameras got it wrong. Their metadata would contain empty fields. For example, the WB field is undefined. You cannot adjust it!

Again, a composite image is technically a digital print, not RAW data. I am not aware of any photo editing software that creates composite images and saves them as RAW data files. Do you?

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:49:01 GMT

“ Canon could write in their proprietary RAW the relevant metadata for each single shot in the Multiple Exposure. “

Like I pointed out previously, doing so would mean that the camera is not conforming to its specifications.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:03:03 GMT

What you say Waddizzle is false at all levels.

Canon can write whatever they want in their own property files.

They could add more metadata indicating the settings of each shot in the combined multiple exposure done by the camera.

Panasonic cameras allow to create multiple exposures in RAW format and no institution, nobody has said that that is incorrect or is violating rules or not in line with specifications or IPTC rules rules NOR panasonic was aksed the to stop doing it.

You claims are false, you fabricated the to support your argument.

As long as the RAW contains the necessary metadata (which would be the case).it will be perfectly fine for Canon to save ONCE AGAIN RAW multiple exposures.

So don't like the idea, you ahve this right, but your arguments agaist it are non factual.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

Waddizzle — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:54:09 GMT

“

You claims are false, you fabricated the to support your argument. “

I suggest that you make use of the product feedback process. You have some great ideas.

As for my claims being false goes, try opening up one of the composite RAW files from your older camera. Can you adjust the WB? Or, is it fixed like a JPG? It’s fixed.

Re: R5 Mk II - Multiple Exposure saved as RAW files via Firmware update.

C-Cella — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:12:47 GMT

I can change WB of my MultipleExposure Canon files taken with EOS 5D mrk.3 and 5DsR

. R5 allowed to.do MultiExposure RAW and I sure the WB is editable