bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I have two N8008s and a N4004, but they sit unused because I now shoot digital. Although the 4004 is a dog, the 8008s were passable in there time. It is probably best to use your N6006 in the manual mode to avoid a lot of frustration. If your camera does actually have a problem that you cannot resolve yourself, it will cost you less for a used replacement than to have it repaired.

ecurb1105

Check your batteries also.

WayneL Loc: Baltimore Md

Set the camera to Program mode with the lens set at f22, that will let the camera pick the right aperture. Or set to AP and you can pick the aperture.

Janis222

Thank you. I ordered a book that explained the camera online that is still in transit. I also downloaded the manual but as a past tech writer I know manuals in general are pretty useless.

gchapell

The aperature has a little lock to keep it at f22 for your totally automatic(P-Program) and semi automatic(S-shutter priority) settings. It is correct to leave it in this position for those two modes and the camera will choose the proper aperature. You need to take it off f22 for the other two modes to work properly and reasonably(A-aperature priority & M-manual). To get it off f22 you need to push a little button which allows the aperature ring to move around. If going to stay in these modes you need to rotate the little button so that it stays in the unlock mode otherwise every time you go to f22 it will lock in place until you push and hold the button again. Found it to be a pretty solid camera at the time and put a good number of rolls through one. You will have the normal shutter/aperature range of settings based on the speed of your film(ASA) and the speed of your lens(lowest f # rating of the lens). A lot of this has been forgotten as digital has allowed for supersonic ASA/ISO ratings. Good luck and enjoy learning it again. Beware of lens compatibility. Many of the newer lenses are missing the aperature ring and were designed for DX (smaller than film) chips. Hopefully you have a lens with the camera and we will leave the lens compatibility issue for another day.

LensDoctor

Nikon will not service it! They have no parts for them and even if they did, they will no longer sell parts to independent repair shops! The manufactureres make more money selling new gear then repairs and the government no longer forces them to carry parts for what use to be 10 years and then 6 years and now? No requirment at all! The manufacturers have total control! Canon is the best but even they will not sell parts for 2nd generation equipment! Very sad!

Bipod

Your camera is probably in perfect working order. If you've installed a new battery
(one 6V CR-P2 or DL223A lithium battery), you are probably good to go.

The fact that it was made in 1991 means very little except that if it breaks and you need parts,
you'll have to buy another N6006 for $20.. That's almost certainly less than what Nikon would
charge you for any part for a new camera. Or you could buy a non-working one for $5 (plus shipping).

I sometimes still shoot a Konica Minolta 650si SLR made in 1995, and very similar to the Nikon N6006.
Works great. My oldest working camera was made in 1916.

Film and digital are different media -- rather like cars and motorcycles. Don't tell a Harley
owner that his Harley is "old technology" or that it;s not electric like a Tesla car. He doesn't
want a nerdy electric car, he wants a Hog!

The N6006 (also known as the F-601) is a very capable film camera:
"The N6006 itself is a multimode semi-profssional AF autowinding SLR, with more features
than you can possibly remember without cribbing notes on the back of your hand. "
http://mattsclassiccameras.com/slr/nikon-n6006/

Best of all, it accepts Nikon F-mount lenses, either AF or manual (auto-indexing).

Were you upgrade to Nikon's latest and greatest film SLR, the F6 (about $2500 for just the body),
you would get:
* Faster autofocus
* Heavier body
* Quieter shutter
* Better metering in matrix mode
* Nikon's "Creative Lighting System" for flash
IMHO, that ain't worth $2500. Frankly, most photos wouldn't look any better.

Links

N6006 Manual: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikon_n6006af/nikon_n6006af.htm

More reviews:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-on-review/classic-cameras-my-first-slr-the-nikon-n6006-f-601
https://www.lomography.com/magazine/59796-nikon-n6006-the-beast-from-91
http://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2011/10/36-nikon-f-601.html

Specs: http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Nikon_F-601_(N6006)

Discussion--A bunch of folks who wish they still owned one:
https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/nikon-f601.102969/
One post says:
"There is a trick with the battery that you should learn (it has to hook under a lip, otherwise you lose about half the battery's capacity)."

Batman Loc: South-Central Texas

Whadda ya wanna bet that this "Sharpshooter" is one of those clowns that seldom, if ever, takes a photograph, but wants to leave the false impression that
he/she/it wants people to think he/she/it is a shore enough, REAL photographer, with a REAL camera!

BATMAN