Now that Facebook has acquired Instagram in an attempt to drive out the competition and learn from their mobile technique and expertise, the social network has released a new free application, Facebook Camera. Camera, which is very similar to Instagram, allows users to implement filters and easily share pictures on their accounts.

With an average of 300 million photos being uploaded to Facebook from January to April, a number which is continuing to grow, the social network wanted to create an app to make the process of uploading photos more appealing to its mobile community.

The new app allows users to shoot, edit, tag, crop, rotate and select from 14 vintage filters. The filters include themes of coffee, cream, highlight, emerald and boost.

Facebook Camera currently only works on iOS devices, allowing users to upload many photos at once, unlike Instagram which allows for only one photo at a time.

Some technology critics have said that Instagram’s app is simpler and easier to use than Facebook’s version, which has tags and allows you to follow the uploads of your friends.

Facebook Camera allows users to not only browse through their friends’ photos, but comment and “Like” them within the app itself, adhering to Facebook’s mission of building an online community with opportunities for interactivity.

Facebook Camera is a cross between all that Facebook stands for and the benefits and success of Instagram, though the users are different. For the most part, Instagram uploads are unique and aesthetically pleasing. In contrast, Facebook Camera allows you to follow your friends’ photos, which may not be as unique, but rather those that they would have uploaded to Facebook anyway.

J-Connection: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is Jewish.

Danielle Chazen is a regular contributor to Jspace's technology division. Danielle is a freelance reporter and technology event coordinator with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.