The new camera option is impressively fast. Instagram now shows an instant preview while it saves the image. Previously, users such as myself would rarely shoot with Instagram's in-app camera, using it mostly to add filters to photos shot with the standard iPhone camera.
The new feature could well change the way many shooters interact with the app.
Unfortunately, the Instagram blog announcing the changes has been down much of Thursday. The update was reported by The Next Web early Thursday.
Other updates in Instagram 2.2: the app makes it easier to change your profile photo and fixes bugs with filters and saving to the photo library. Users who speak Chinese or Japanese can access the Mixi and Sina Weibo sharing options if their phone's language and region are correctly formatted.
Instagram, a cult social photography app, reached 15 million users in December. Though it is currently only available for iOS, it has publicly announced an Android app is in the works.
Are you excited about the faster camera? Do you think China and Japan will embrace Instagram now that they can easily share to Mixi and Sina Weibo? Let us know what you think of the update in the comments.
BONUS: Photo Apps That Inhance Instagram