It used to be that you would drop your film off at a lab, come back a few days later and be greeted with developed negatives and prints. That evolved into the one-hour photo lab, which eventually gave way to digital. But now we live in a world where we're not willing to wait to download photos from a memory card and upload them to the Web. That's why a lot of folks shoot photos with a smartphone (that, and the fact that your phone is always on you). But what if you're not happy with the images that your phone captures, but you aren't willing to sacrifice the ability to share a photo mere seconds after it was captured?

Serious shutterbugs with love for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter should turn to a camera with built-in Wi-Fi to bridge the gap. At a minimum these models make it possible to transfer photos to your iOS or Android phone or tablet. Some will even upload your shots directly to a Web service when connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot. And if that's not good enough for you, check out the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Camera, which packs an integrated cellular radio for always-on 4G connectivity.

Though most people will want Wi-Fi in a camera primarily to get images online, there are additional uses. Many wireless cameras support remote control via your phone or tablet. You'll see what the lens sees on the screen of your device, and depending on the model, you can control the zoom and shooting settings, and, of course, fire the shutter from an app.

The models below are some of the best Wi-Fi cameras we've tested, but if you're not quite ready to upgrade, and still want to use your camera for instant photo sharing, don't fret. The Eye-Fi Mobi memory card is supported by a ton of digital cameras, and it makes it very easy to copy images from your camera to your phone. Nikon also sells the WU-1a and WU-1b add-on adapters for select models, but our experience suggests that you're better off using the Mobi card.

If you're in want of a camera and none of these models tickle your fancy, you can look through all of the models that we've reviewed in our Digital Cameras Product Guide. We've also picked our favorite category in each of our review categories listed in The 10 Best Digital Cameras, and our choices for the Best Mirrorless Cameras, many of which have Wi-Fi built in. 

FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP