Nikon N6006 Shutter Issue

A few weeks ago I purchased a used N6006 AF from the B&H used department. It worked fine for a week or so but has of late appeared to develop a shutter problem—the button will sometimes neither depress nor half depress to allow focus. And then at times it will fire the shutter randomly when not touching the button at all. It also sometimes fires automatically upon turning on the camera. The focus also doesn’t seem to be working when it does fire. Feels almost like the button has gotten stuck halfway down and won't pop back up fully.

 

Any thoughts on how to resolve? I've done the following:

 

- tried multiple lenses--all have same issue

- changed battery

- set aperture to lowest setting

- ensured aperture lock is engaged

- reset mode to basic shooting

 

But to no avail...

Don’t B&H have a 30 day return window? I’d say use that.

It's fun to solve equipment puzzles but I wouldn't put much effort into a camera that fetches $20-30 used. I've never purchased any used gear from B&H but I'm sure you can return it.

 

Eric Sande

Try removing the battery, leaving the camera overnight, then reinstalling the battery. Also, how fresh is your battery? New old-stock batteries can often act strangely; even lithium batteries don't last forever in storage, and it's possible to get one that's over a decade old if you buy from a less reputable source.

 

Also, it's not at all obvious, but the battery kind of clicks into place more surely than you might think, and the camera manual clearly states that this will improve battery function. I'm guessing it makes a fuller electrical connection which allows better amperage to the camera. Make sure you've done this - check out the manual for clearer instructions, but once done it's fairly obvious.

Do yourself a favour, return it and get a semi professional N90 or N90S instead. It's a much better camera, well made and reliable, runs off cheap AA batteries and has a strong metal door latch. The plastic latches break so easily. Even the earlier N8008 is worth considering.

Even the earlier N8008 is worth considering.

My F801s (N8008s) is now the only one of my film Nikon's that's still fully working and with accurate shutter speeds.

 

All the rest need minor or major attention/repair.

 

Send that N6006 back! And don't waste any more time on it. It obviously has a faulty shutter switch that isn't going to fix itself.

Edited October 11, 2020 by rodeo_joe|1

I had an N6006 back in the day (1990's). The shutter button cracked, possibly from screwing in cable releases into the threaded socket in the middle of the shutter button. I have always been careful with my equipment, and never had this issue on any other Nikon camera body in 30 years of using the brand, so I felt there was something inherently defective in the design.

It's fun to solve equipment puzzles but I wouldn't put much effort into a camera that fetches $20-30 used. I've never purchased any used gear from B&H but I'm sure you can return it.

 

Eric Sande

I have an N6006. I really haven't used it in years event for a year ago or so when I shot two rolls of Tri-X. Everything worked. Like brand new. All the features. Metering (I needed a new battery). Amazing piece of technology with PASM, manual, auto focus etc. I don't care for it's lens a 35-70mm, I think. Not very sharp. I might use it more if i could find a better lens. Any suggestions?

The electronic shutter on my N6006 is amazingly accurate, better than all my other lenses (medium format and large format - shutters are in the lenses)

Thanks for the advice all! I'm unfortunately across the country from B&H on a trip and so returning isn't as easy as I'd like it to be, but definitely sounds like the best option! They're closed for Sukkot until tomorrow but will give em a ring then.

I have an N6006. I don't care for it's lens a 35-70mm, I think. Not very sharp. I might use it more if i could find a better lens. Any suggestions?

 

Going off-topic but I still have a 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 (2nd gen with the wider focus ring) and have always thought it was perfectly good. For something the same size the 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 may be better but I've never used it. I've also had the 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D for many years and found it just fine for my needs as well.

My luck with the N6006 has been the weak door catches. The N8008 is a much better option in this respect, and is an all around great camera. The N90 is a step above, albeit very similar, but I think must have the loudest shutter of any AF Nikon.

My luck with the N6006 has been the weak door catches. The N8008 is a much better option in this respect, and is an all around great camera. The N90 is a step above, albeit very similar, but I think must have the loudest shutter of any AF Nikon.

 

Yes, the door latch was the #1 issue with the N6006 from what I've read here on photo.net. When depth of field preview went away in the '90s the N8008/s held value - I remember seeing it listed for over $500 in the big KEH Camera ad in Shutterbug.

Yes, the door latch was the #1 issue with the N6006 from what I've read here on photo.net. When depth of field preview went away in the '90s the N8008/s held value - I remember seeing it listed for over $500 in the big KEH Camera ad in Shutterbug.

 

Interesting how much prices have changed. I paid $35 US for my F801s (the model # used for the N8008s everywhere outside the US). Looks like $57 for an EX-rated one from keh.com today.

 

The only issue with this body (and the F-601/N6006 has the same issue) is incompatibility with AF-S and VR. The F90/F90x (N90/N90s) support AF-S but not VR.