You can use the flash setting without gatteries, but you have no metering, for using he fully auto and full range of shutter speeds you need 2 lr44 batteries they should be pretty widely availlable, over here these button batteries are available in most supermarkets, DIY shops and are pretty much standard for a wide range of applications, not just cameras.they go in the bottom of the camera where there is a screw battery top, at least they do in my MV1
Richard