Instagram has changed itself many times over the year and even more so after being bought by Facebook and trying to compete with Vine. The app allows you to a take a snapshot on the go with a nostalgic filter. You can use your camera phone or a proper camera that works with your phone to create images. It has filters that can stylize your images the way you want with further customization that has come over time. Version 6.0 was recently released. This version added a tray of photo editing tools to the app. We have been using it heavily since it was released and it’s very much the best Instagram yet.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- It is easy to share images to different platforms from Instagram.
- The editing features greatly improve Instagram
- Consistent user interface
Cons
- With Instagram you only have a square to use. It would be nice to have 1 or to more aspects ratios to choose from, without having to use a third party app like Cropic.
- Cannot edit comments when you add a comment to Instagram, to edit it you have to delete the image and submit a new one.
- The filters have not changed much. While companies like VSCO come have come out with various new filters, Instagram has mostly stayed the same.
Gear Used
To capture my images I use a Nikon D700 with a lightning adapter for my iPad air. I use occasionally use a Nikon D90 with an Eyefi card and lately I have been using a Sony A7 with e a Metabones adapter for my various Nikon lenses and its on board wifi
Features
From the Instagram App description
• 100% free custom designed filters: XPro-II, Earlybird, Rise, Amaro, Hudson, Lo-fi, Sutro, Toaster, Brannan, Inkwell, Walden, Hefe, Nashville, 1977, and others.
• Video recording with breathtaking cinematic stabilization.
• Linear and Radial Tilt-Shift blur effects for extra depth of field
• Instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and Foursquare
• Unlimited uploads
• Send photos and videos directly to friends
• Interact with friends through giving & receiving likes and comments
• Full front & back camera support
What’s New in Version 6.0.1
The Instagram you love, now with 10 new photo-editing tools!
* Double-tap on filters to adjust the filter strength
* Perfect your composition with Adjust and Vignette
* Enrich colors with Warmth and Saturation
* Adjust lights and darks with Brightness, Contrast, Highlights and Shadows
* Make your photos crisp and clear with Sharpen
Ease of Use
Instagram Version 6 is easy to use. You don’t have to put too much thought into it. You just have to decide how you would like your image to appear. Once you have captured your image or transferred to it to your phone you have a choice to make. You can just go straight to the preset filters or go to the other options like lux and editing tools. As I have used this version more and more I found it less necessary to use other products. As a social media tool, Instagram has grown. I do admit I had issues with it in the past.
Real Life Applications
We have been using Instagram for various reasons here on The Phoblographer. I have been using Instagram in my photography experiments with my New Sony A7. Our Executive Editor, Julius, sharing his time in Istanbul. Our main account has been sharing all our upcoming work and has been used to host a contest. Instagram has been a great way for us to get images out quickly and with version 6 we have been able to refine the quality of what we share.
Image Quality
The image quality mainly depends on the user. If you do make a mistake and feel the need to edit it, you get a better image in return. Work with what you have. All the editing tools do work. With improvements on its technology, image quality on Instagram has improved overall. This current version of Instagram does take advantage of this with its new editing tools.
Samples
Conclusions
When Facebook purchased Instagram I thought it was doomed. Luckily Facebook did no screw up things too much. With these editing tools Instagram has become a more useful app, more in line with its competitors. It is a good social media tool that can help you get your images seen.