I can't seem to change my camera setting when in Auto, mine is slightly underexposed

I had a look at my D40 and you can't change the exp comp in auto but can alter metering, be worth shooting in P as Azz says cause you can tinker with a few things and is just the same as auto with a little flexibility.

Nikon tend to overexpose so its strange that it is underexposing.

I think I am not going to bother with Auto anymore, because mine definitely come out under

I used to have exactly the same problem both with the Nikon D70s and my D200. Soon found out that by using aparture priority mainly seems to have cured the problem.

Bazza

You just need to change the exposure compensation in your settings

What should I change it too?

If it's overexposing (too light) try -0.7
If it's underexposing (too dark) try +0.7

Thanks for that Azz.........................due to the fact that yo was off for a night I actually got reading all the on line stuff that you and others have posted to me.

A very interesting read it was too.

Have you read 'UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE' by brian peterson it is very good. Some things are beginning to fall into place now, mostly thanks to the help on here.

It's all one big learning process Jols - the more you read the more you'll learn, the more pics/'examples' you see the more you'll pick up, and the more you practise the better you'll get

I'm learning new stuff everyday - a lot of it just by looking at everyone else's pics here

I also use a D40X and generally use Aperature priority. You may want to bracket your shots or add compentsation of 1 F-stop in the direction that yields the best results.