Lex (perpendicularity consultant) Jenkins 
, Mar 01, 2009; 11:11 a.m.
The Sony DSC-H1 comes with a good, fast superzoom lens (36-432mm equivalent, 12x optical zoom, f/2.8-3.7). You're all set there and won't need any other lenses, filters, etc., to get started.
A quick look at the specs online indicates it has 32MB internal memory so it should be able to function without a media card, altho' that 32MB will fill up quickly with only a few high resolution photos. You'll probably want to add a Memory Stick/Memory Stick PRO media card.
And the specs show it takes AA batteries, so that's easily taken care of. Most digital cameras that use AA batteries work best with either lithiums (very expensive, not reusable) or NiMH rechargeables, which are now affordable and very cost effective.
Whether you need a tripod depends on the type of photography you enjoy. If you enjoy candids of people or the convenience of portability while walking, hiking or cycling, and mostly shoot in daylight, you don't absolutely need a tripod. You might find a handy camera bag, such as a waist bag, useful if you're very active. Otherwise, any decent shoulder bag or backpack will do.
For best results with scenics, landscapes, closeups, etc., sure, a tripod will help. There are several good affordable tripods from Slik, Bogen/Manfrotto and others. Avoid the cheap stuff from places like Wal-Mart. And for $5-$50, you can often find a decent tripod by scrounging around pawn shops and thrift stores. I've bought only one new tripod in 30 years and hardly ever use it. My best tripods all cost less than $50 from pawn shops (a Slik and Bogen/Manfrotto), and a couple of years ago even found a very nifty and relatively uncommon Safe Lock PT with pneumatic legs for five bucks at a thrift store. The Safe Lock is my only tripod tall enough to reach eye level without using the center post.
The best thing you can do? Take lots of photos, don't be excessively critical of yourself to the extent that it hinders your creative impulse. Take more photos than you think you need, then edit out the mistakes later. Study the photos of others whose work you admire and try to emulate their techniques. And don't worry if you can't quite duplicate their results. Along the way you'll discover your own style.
