I know the battery is needed for the focal plane shutter, but if the batter runs out, can the body still trigger the leaf shutter? Say if the electronics fail or the battery is dead, just wondering if the camera can still work with 1/500 or less.
I just got a good condition 203FE. Feels very good in hand, not that different from a 500 except for the battery and more functions. But it seems easy to just shoot it like a 500cm if you use C lenses and choose the C mode.
This is just an update to the question "duparis00" originally asked about "C" mode on the 2000/200 series, I went and tested them (the working bodies I have) as "duparis00" indicated that his 2000F/CM did not work without a battery in "C" mode.
The 2000F/CW and 203FE work in "C" mode without a battery (I'm assuming the 205 and 201 do as well, someone else will have to test them).
The 2000F/C and F/CM do not work without a battery.