Hi, Karen,

When I first tried to use bracketing, I stuck at the same point as you did

In fact using the bracketing is a bit tricky since you have to check first if the FUNCT button is assigned to bracketing, which is a default setting. If you reassigned the FUNCT button to something else, you will have to reassign it back to bracketing. Here is a short cookbook for exposure bracketing:

1. Use f5 (Assign FUNCT. button) to assign the "FUNCT. button press" to NONE (OFF). (See page 320)
2. Set the Auto Bracketing with the function e5. For shooting sunsets I would suggest to set the "AE only" bracketing. (See page 315)
3. You can also use e7 to set the bracketing order. (see page 316)
4. Use f5 (Assign FUNCT. button) to assign the "FUNCT. button + dials" to "Auto bracketing" (BKT). (See page 320)
5. While pressing the FUNCT button, use the main (back) command dial to set the number of shots in the bracketing sequence (the shots are shown on the top display). (See pages 131 and 132 of the user manual)
6. While pressing the FUNCT button, use the sub-command dial (front) to set the exposure increment between the shots (the increment is shown on the top display). (See pages 131 and 132 of the user manual)
7. If you wish, you can still set the exposure compensation (the actual exposure steps are shown on top display).

IMPORTANT!!! Do not forget ot turn off the bracketing after you finish the shooting! By missing this step all your further photographs will be bracketed and hence over- or underexposed. To turn the bracketing off: While pressing the FUNCT button, use main command dial to set the bracketing to off (OF is shown on the top display).

That's it. Simple, isn't it ?
I hope that this will help you to make some nice sunset pictures.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Photographic New Year!

Niko
-----------------------
Never underestimate!

Visit my Nikonians gallery.