Canon released the IXUS 132 in early 2013 as the most accessible entry point into the IXUS lineup — metal body, 8× zoom starting at 28mm, 16-megapixel CCD, and Smart Auto reading 32 scenes without you touching a setting. At around £80 it undercut most rivals at the same spec level while looking noticeably more expensive. It's also the camera Hailey Bieber has been spotted shooting with — which explains why it's suddenly everywhere again.
NO FILTER: SHOT ON IXUS 132
THE LOOKS
In silver, the IXUS 132 is clean, compact, and properly metal — 92.9 × 52.4 × 21.6mm with softly rounded edges and a minimal front face dominated by the lens housing. The 2.7-inch LCD fills most of the rear, the zoom ring around the shutter button on top is a detail you only get on IXUS models at this price tier, and at 133g it has just enough weight to feel considered. Also available in black, blue, and pink.
THE SPECS
The 16-megapixel CCD is the sensor type producing the warm, characterful output that defines early-2010s digicam aesthetics — and at this price in 2013, that was a genuinely good deal. The 8× zoom covers 28–224mm with Intelligent IS optical stabilization, wide enough for groups at one end and useful reach at the other. Macro focuses to 1cm at wide angle for close-up shots. Smart Auto reads 32 scenes. Eco Mode extends battery life from 200 to 275 shots — a small but practical detail. 720p/25fps video. SD/SDHC/SDXC. 92.9 × 52.4 × 21.6mm, 133g.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
- 28mm wide-angle start on an entry-level IXUS: wide enough for group shots, cramped rooms, and parties without stepping back — a real advantage over 35mm competition at this price.
- 16-megapixel CCD in a metal body at £80: the sensor producing the warm, slightly soft early-2010s output that's now the reason people are buying these — at an entry-level price.
- 1cm macro mode at wide angle: close enough to fill the frame with a small subject without additional gear — a practical detail most compacts at this price didn't bother with.
THE VERDICT
The IXUS 132 is back — not because the specs are exceptional, but because the CCD output, the metal body, and the 28mm wide angle make it exactly the camera people want for that specific early-2010s aesthetic. Hailey Bieber shooting on one didn't hurt. The flash handles indoor group shots well, Smart Auto stays out of your way, and the silver body looks better in person than any photo of it suggests.