[en] The absorption and activation methods have been applied for a long time to systematic studies of fast neutron capture cross sections. Both methods are simple in principle but difficult in practice. The simplicity should ensure a wider use of the methods in particular for problems which may be complicated to approach with other methods. The difficulties encountered in absorption measurements are related to multiple scattering and resonance shielding effects. In activation experiments the influence of secondary low-energy neutrons causes the main problems