Yes and no. Yes, because the ALPA is not a camera for novices. It demands experience, discipline and concentration: there are no interlocks to prevent double exposures nor does the camera stop you from removing the lens or the back without inserting the dark-slide. By the way: the absence of any interlock is one of the reasons why the ALPA's shutter release is so extremely smooth (minimum vibrations). You may also forget to focus or to set the exposure. No, because all the controls are simple, reliable and self-evident - a practised photographer can operate the camera instinctively. There is no need for a manual. Some will see the ALPA's simplicity as a disadvantage, others will see it as a liberation from the complexity %u2013 sometimes tyranny - of automation. Both are right: use the camera that best suits your needs, preferences and abilities.