Please explain the lost manual settings of the D40 from the D50

Hi Karen,
It's no problem, this stuff can get confusing.

With the D40, here are the manual options that you lose in comparison to the D50. There aren't many:

1. White balance & exposure bracketing are gone
2. Exposure compensation not as flexible (fixed at 1/3 EV on the D40, 1/3 or 1/2 allowed on the D50)
3. CW avg. size fixed at 8mm (D50 has a choice of sizes)

Here is what those terms mean, translated:

1. On the D50, you can set the camera to bracket, which means take a series of the same photos at slightly different exposures or white balances. This is useful if you're not quite sure what the exposure of the scene should be. This is similar to the technique on a film camera of setting your f stop to the number you think it should be, then hitting one higher and one lower just to make sure you get the shot. The D50 can do this for you automatically adjusting both exposure compensation and white balance. The D40 cannot. Not a big deal; you can do it yourself.

2. Exposure compensation is the interval in which you can step the exposure up or down in either direction. The D50 lets you step in 1/2s or 1/3s, the D40 lets you step in 1/3s. You shouldn't miss the extra option on this; you can always adjust the ISO to compensate if you need to fine-tune.

3. The D50 lets you change the area from which the exposure is metered when you're using center-weighted metering. The D40 has a set size. Not the end of the world, again. This is the only area where the D40 might offer a little setback to the average-to-advanced user, in my opinion.

That is basically what is lost. There are a few features gained on the D40 as opposed to the D50, too. Here is a fantastic comparison chart of the two (scroll about halfway down the page). If there are terms you don't understand in the chart, go to the top left of the page and check out the link to the Glossary and that should help you too. Or feel free to come back and ask!