Instagram adds first new filters in two years

The 300 million-user-strong photo-focused social media site has taken the wraps off five new filters, the first additions to the site since December 2012.

Instagram says that the filters -- Slumber; Crema; Ludwig; Aden; and Perpetua -- are a response to how photography trends have evolved over the past two years and have been created to make the most of the advances in smartphone camera technology and quality since its last filter update.

In a blog post, the filters are described as being "Inspired by the photography, art, fashion and design of the global Instagram community," and arrive at the same time as the company has updated its app so that users can get an automatic preview of a shot with an applied filter before releasing the shutter.

Another change is better management and organization of the growing number of filters. Now users can sort them in order of preference and discard the one that are never used.