Instagram updated with improved camera and new photo filter

Instagram's latest update includes a few adjustments to its camera function and a new photo filter. This is its biggest iOS update since the revamp a year ago. Instagram says that the camera has been the core part of the experience since they first launched and for that very reason, they have made some significant improvements to the way it looks and have improved upon its speed as well.

Commenting on the redesign of the camera, Instagram states that it has brought the look of Instagram’s camera up to parity with the rest of the application. One will find changes that include an Instagram-themed shutter and shutter release button, a preview of the most recent photo on your camera roll, an improved Camera Roll image selector for the iPhone 5 only for quick access to a user’s last photograph, an optional grid guide for live photos and a permanent grid guide for the scale and crop screen as well as speed and reliability improvements.

The new filter added is called Willow, and commenting on this feature, Instagram says, “You’ve asked for more filters, and we’re excited to announce a brand new filter in both the latest iOS and Android releases! Willow is a monochrome filter with subtle purple tones and a translucent glowing white border. This filter works well on portraits, still life and architecture photographs with contrast.”

The developers have also improved the tilt-shift feature which can be used to blur images. Instagram claims that with the update, the blur one sees is the blur one gets and they have also overhauled the blur algorithm to increase the quality and accuracy when this feature is used. Instagram claims that Tilt-shift now gives a vastly more realistic rendering of depth of field because of these improvements and subtle tweaks to how an image is rendered.

Instagram version 3.2 is now available for download for free through the Apple App Store or if you already have the app on your handset, you should receive a notification to update it.