if you intend to take photographs at a shutter speed lower then the focal length of your lens, you need a tripod. For example if you are shooting at a marked length of 50mm, double it (your sensor has rhe effect of doubling the marked focal length of your lens, so that at 50mm your lens has a field of view equivalent to 100mm). At shutter speeds below 1/00th of a second you should be looking at using a tripod. Youfigure a tripod isn't part of your picture taking lifestyle? So why do you see professional photographers using a tripod? To look good? No, it's because they want to guarantee that their work is sharp. You want pictures that are blurred through hand shake? Cool, don't get a tripod.

Dave.