Master Multiple Exposures on the Lomo LC‑A: Workflow & Tips

Struggling to get dreamy double‑exposures on your Lomo LC‑A? The MX switch is the secret, but most shooters miss its three positions and the re‑wind lever. Follow this step‑by‑step workflow for multiple exposures on the Lomo LC‑A and you’ll start layering frames correctly on the very first roll.

Step‑by‑Step Guide to Multiple Exposures on the Lomo LC‑A

The confusion I felt with the LC‑A's MX switch

When I first grabbed the Lomo LC‑A, the MX button looked like any other little knob on the top. I assumed it was just another exposure setting and never gave it a second thought. My first attempt at a multiple exposure was a total mess: I shot a portrait, turned the MX switch, snapped a street scene, and then – nothing. The film looked completely blank on the second frame, and I realized I’d actually been shooting two separate exposures on the same piece of film without any overlap.

What made it even more frustrating was that the LC‑A doesn’t give you any on‑screen feedback. No LCD, no beep – just a tiny click when you flip the switch. I kept flipping it back and forth, thinking I was “arming” the camera for the next shot, but I was actually resetting the exposure counter each time. After a few wasted rolls, I finally decided to sit down with the lomo lc-a multiple exposure guide I’d found on a forum and actually read the manual. Turns out the MX switch has three positions:

1. Off – normal single exposure mode.
2. On – lets you expose the same frame twice before the film advances.
3. Auto‑reset – after the second exposure it automatically moves the film forward.

I’d been leaving it on Off, which meant the second click was just a regular exposure on the next frame. No wonder my pictures looked “normal” and my film felt cheap. The real kicker was that the camera also has a tiny “re‑wind” lever that you need to pull after the first exposure to line up the second layer correctly. I missed that detail too, so even when I finally set MX to On, the second picture was slightly off‑center and looked like a ghost image.

Once I finally understood the three positions and the re‑wind lever, I started experimenting with simple subjects: a lone flower, a silhouette, a bright sign. I’d set MX to On, shoot the first layer, pull the re‑wind lever, line up the second shot, and click again. The results were still a bit hit‑or‑miss, but at least I could see the layers start to blend. That’s when I realized I needed a solid workflow – something that would take the guesswork out of each step. The next part of this post is the exact process I use now, straight from my Lomo Life Blog kitchen table.

A dead‑simple workflow that finally clicked

Here’s the routine that stopped my film from going to waste and gave me consistent double‑exposures every time. It’s a handful of tiny actions, but doing them in the same order makes the whole thing feel natural.

1. Set the MX switch to “On.”
This tells the LC‑A to stay on the same frame after the first click. I always double‑check the little toggle; it’s easy to miss because it’s so close to the shutter button.

2. Choose your first subject and frame it.
I like to start with something simple and high‑contrast – a dark silhouette against a bright background works great. Press the shutter, then immediately pull the tiny re‑wind lever (the one right next to the MX switch). This pulls the film back just enough to expose the same spot again.

3. Adjust the focus or composition if needed.
Because the film is still in the same position, you can change the angle or focus for the second layer. I usually move a few steps to the side or tilt the camera a bit.

4. Shoot the second exposure.
Now you’re ready for the second layer. This is where the magic happens. I love using the how to set up multiple exposures on a Lomo LC‑A tip of playing with light sources – a street lamp, a flashlight, even a candle. The two layers start to merge into something unexpected.

5. Let the camera auto‑reset or manually advance the film.
If your MX switch is on the auto‑reset position, the camera will move the film forward on its own after the second click. If you’re on the manual mode, just turn the film advance knob once.

6. Review your mental checklist.
Before you load the next frame, ask yourself: MX still on? Re‑wind lever reset? Good. This quick mental run‑through keeps the process smooth.

A couple of extra tricks I picked up from the Lomo LC‑A double exposure tips and tricks community:

• Use different exposures – try under‑exposing the first layer and over‑exposing the second. It adds depth.
• Play with color – the Lomography film tends to push colors, so a red first layer followed by a green second can create a funky neon vibe.
• Creative multiple exposure ideas with Lomography cameras – try shooting a portrait and then a cityscape, or a close‑up of a leaf and later a splash of water. The juxtaposition can be surprisingly poetic.

The whole workflow takes less than a minute once you’ve got the rhythm. I’ve done it on the Lomo Life Blog while waiting for coffee, and the results keep getting better with each roll. The key is to treat the MX switch as a deliberate step, not an afterthought. Once you make it part of your shooting habit, you’ll never waste another frame.

Wrap up & Thoughts

To sum it up: set the MX switch to On, pull the re‑wind lever after the first shot, line up your second exposure, and let the camera do the rest. Keep the steps in order and you’ll start seeing those dreamy, layered images that first got you hooked on Lomography.

If you found this guide useful, feel free to share it with a friend who’s also into film. And if you want more hands‑on tips from the Lomo Life Blog, consider signing up for our newsletter – we drop fresh analog tricks straight to your inbox every month. Happy shooting!