Camera Accessories
Batteries
Electronic cameras or manual cameras which use film generally use some type of battery. Every camera is different, so we need to buy a specific battery for the type of camera we have.
Digital Cameras, generally, use a battery (even though there are some cameras in the market which use regular batteries). Whenever you buy a digital camera, it comes with a battery and battery charger. I always recommend taking spare regular batteries or an extra charged battery, depending on the case. There is nothing worse than a camera not functioning simply because there is no more "juice" in the batteries.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in digital cameras. There are different types of cards: compact flash, micro SD, SD multi-media, SDHC and others. Different camera models use different types of cards. Before buying a card, make sure it is the type of card our camera accepts.
We have to be careful when handling memory cards. Bear in mind that your pictures are stored in them until you transfer them to your computer. Thus, if you ever receive an error message, you should stop using that memory card completely. Nowadays, there are some available memory cards which are capable of storing up to 32GB of data. This means a lot of pictures! However, instead of buying a memory card of 32GB, I recommend buying 2 or even 3 of lower capacity. For example, buy three 4GB memory cards or two 8GB. This way, if one no longer works, you still have two (or three) in perfect condition.
Another piece of advice is to format the memory card instead of deleting 1 picture at a time (or even all of them at once). This preserves the life span of your memory card and prevents errors from happening.
Tripod
A tripod is a support accessory with three legs used in photography to hold a camera. This adds stability to your camera, specially in situations in which there is very little light or moving objects.
A tripod can be a compulsory accessory depending on the type of picture you are taking. For example, if you like taking pictures at night, having a tripod is a must.
There are some tripods which are lighter and others which are heavier and more stable. You must consider this at the moment of buying one; you will be carrying it. What I mean by this is that you don't need to buy the heaviest or the most expensive one if you're using a 35mm camera. An average weight tripod is more than enough. On the other hand, you need to be careful not to buy one too light for your camera making it unstable. Remember that your camera will go up there and it can fall. Sometimes, it is better to spend a little more money to be on the safe side.
