SpyPoint Flex Review

[@jaimeastin]

I have a lot of micro and cell link cameras... Two no longer work with the cell, but I will use them. Just ordered the flex and will pickup today. I have love hate with spypoint, but so far I will still use them. I will finally join the insiders club after two years.

[@randyweaver3456]

I've been using trail cameras since they first came out and Spypoint cameras since the company first started with a rather large, black white flash camera. All in all, they have been very good cameras in terms of reliability. I had one Micro that didn't work at all and a Link-S that wouldn't turn on after almost two years of continuous use and Spypoint replaced both. I recently bought five of the new Flex cameras for $149 and I have to say that I'm impressed with the trigger speed and the picture quality, although I have one that tends to over expose daytime photos. One thing I really like is the wireless firmware update, which you can initiate via the Spypoint app. Word of caution, however; check the firmware version in an area with good cell coverage before you deploy the camera. While the Flex will transmit photos with only "two bars," two bars doesn't provide sufficient bandwidth to update the firmware and it will not transmit photos while the firmware update is pending. I had to recover two cameras, take them to an area with good cell coverage and update the firmware. Both are now deployed and working flawlessly.

[@labguy303]

Just curious, why do you use an external battery? I have six Spypoint micro cameras and I use the lithium batteries. I put them out in the midwest in November and the batteries are still at 100%. Additionally, do you find that the Flex cameras use more/less battery than the micro cameras?

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

The thing about Lithiums is they show 100% until about 5 minutes before they die. Okay that's a bit of an exaggeration but not far off. You might have a few dozen photos from the time they show under 100% until they are dead. Even with having lithium selected in the options. In fact if you don't select lithium in the options it will never show under 100% even when it goes dead. For me the solar/battery costs about 2 to 3 sets of lithiums. With that I can put a camera out and never have to touch it if I don't want to. I had a Cell Link with lithiums die in late October last year. I had been avoiding hunting the entire property until I got daylight mature buck movement and this thing was dead center of the property. I was blind for weeks in that spot because of it. After that I decided to go solar plus battery. I've had some growing pains navigating the learning curve but the ones I build now are about bulletproof and cost the same as the cheap pre-made units I see lots of folks having trouble with. I will do a video at some point on them in the future.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

So far my camera is on 100% battery but if the camera is able to run thie solar/battery down then it definitely uses more power than the Micro. From the reports I'm seeing and the bit of testing I did while using alkaline AAs it seems the Flex tries to show exact values instead of only showing trends. What I mean is my Micros go 100%, 88%, 76%... The Flex will go 100%, 98%, 96%, 98%... This actual has caused some folks to be upset that their battery goes down then up.

[@labguy303]

Super helpful. Thank you

[@randyweaver3456]

I really like the lithium batteries as well. However, lithium batteries do not, like conventional batteries, gradually lose power and will show 100% until they die. They absolutely do last considerably longer than alkaline batteries, but there's no warning that they're about to fail. I would add that the price of lithium batteries has gone up considerably in the last year or so.

[@craigarnold323]

Thank you for posting the video, picture quality is a game changer. We tried to buy a Flex at BPS in Auburn, NY and they were sold out in 1 day.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I was able to get a second one before the ran out online. Just put it out today.

[@subject0692]

Appreciate the video been wondering about this unit ever since it started getting blasted on the app. It takes AA batteries not a rechargeable unit, so how are you able to use an external power source?

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

In the video I show the jack location. It can accept a 5.5x2.1mm barrel plug from a 12V source. This is a very common plug and there are many companies that offer battery boxes and solar panels/battery box combos that plug directly in. I don't even put AAs in mine.

[@fasnuf]

So barely a mention about the external 12v hookup. I was at Spotsmans Warehouse and saw the FLEX on sale for $99. I didn't buy it because I need the 12v port. Nothing on Spypoints website in the specs or packaging. It said you could use rechargeable or AA batteries. The Micro LTE said it did have the 12v port right on the box so that's the one I bought. $79 on sale too. It works good, but I really wanted the dual SIM feature.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

It's the exact same 12V hookup on the Flex as every other SpyPoint camera. If it weren't I would have made a big deal about the change. The Micros are nice and use far less battery as well. They just don't send as nice of thumbnails.

[@Leonidimus59]

Does Flex burn through batteries quicker than Micro? I have a Micro and it lasts for a while even on AAs

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

The Flex uses a more aggressive (and accurate) curve for battery life than the Micros so I think a lot of folks believe it uses more battery than it does. With that said I am thinking it likely uses a bit more power.

[@stratoman83]

I picked mine up a few days early at a retailer. I have updated the firmware, but I don’t have options for flextime or setting a schedule. Are you having this issue?

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I am having the same issue with not being able to set the schedule. I am not aware of what flextime is though.

[@stratoman83]

@@huntingscienceexplained9825 I meant to say Timelapse. Flextime is another camera brands version of Timelapse. Oops. I thought I remember spypoint saying Timelapse and Timelapse+ was available for this camera.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

@@stratoman83 I don't recall them discussing timelapse in the advertisements but I'm the mod on a FB SpyPoint page and some other folks were saying they heard it would have timelapse as well. Perhaps it was one of the YT videos from the announcement. I use timelapse all the time on my Spartan GoLives.

[@Scubaken2022]

No Timelapse, maybe a feature added later? The video notifications is wonky, it sends you three snapshots which count against your plan. Then if you want you can pay for the video or wait to pull your card and look at them.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

@@Scubaken2022 it is frustrating they promised more than was delivered and they didn't let anyone know these features weren't coming at launch. Will they add them later, are they canceling them, a little communication would go a long ways? The strategy they chose for video makes it about impossible to run that mode. Why pay all that money for unlimited photos you'll need to run video mode then have to pay a quarter for each video. My Spartans can send hundreds of videos a month for $8 and they have the ability to live stream to my phone. They also offer timelapse and remote SD formats. They also rarely require attention or have App bugs.

[@markc2036]

Do you have to get videos or can it just stay on pics

[@amaietta1996]

It says there is an on demand feature.. i cant seem to figure that out tho

[@eastonsoular2425]

Is SPYPOINT removing the cellular feature from some cameras? If so what ones?

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

Anything that ran on 3G or "4G" HSPA. SpyPoint isn't shutting them off the carriers are shutting off their 3G and 3G derived services so the cameras can't communicate anymore. This does not affect any 4G LTE cameras. Anything Verizon or anything marked LTE is fine.

[@jettamustang]

I think you could still utilize your old mounts. Instead of using them vertically with 1/4 screw pointing north, rotate it 90 degrees and have 1/4 screw point facing forward. Just my 2 cents, keeps you from having to buy new mounts. I get it though, you will be screwing mount into the side of the tree but I don’t see that being too big of an issue but who knows depending on how close surrounding trees, brush and such are.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I have done exactly this in a pinch. It does make your camera a bit easier to spot but works if needed.

[@johncagle8355]

Alert. I purchased a Flex for night security. Problem is the Flex, doesn't have a custom setting like the micro. Therefore you can set it to work when you want it to. Bummer!

[@sw-s1730]

I bought a flex recently to try one out & I'll have to say they have delivered on the image sharpness & quality. It is still a new product & issues I've had are low battery life(AA Alkaline) compared to the Link Micro series & the white balance of the pictures is "off" (purplish-blue) and the color saturation is subdued like an old horror movie scene ! Also, I have a 128GB Kingston class10 Microsd card & the camera only recognizes it as 32Gb. This was formatted by the new FLEX format button feature. For folks that have the standard Spypoint antenna extensions, you will have to get an adapter to hook up to the new Flex. The gender has been changed on the antenna connector. The good news is that the firmware can be updated remotely. This camera was probably pushed out to the market a bit too early to keep up with the competition - no doubt. Hope that the LIT-22 rechargeable pack is made available soon to feed the power hungry beast. I think when all the firmware glitches are worked out, this camera will be the trailcam to beat so if you can get one now, get it! .

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I was planning to do a one month follow up but I think you pretty much summed up everything I was going to say. 😆

[@flywithhunter]

The do not remove sticker is referring to the sticker covering the sims card under it I believe!

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

Yes it is.

[@lillytribal5470]

Ciao, mi è appena arrivata la spypoint Flex ,ho attivato la fotocamere sulla applicazione, ma la Flex, non invia nessun segnale alla applicazione, quindi non riesco ad impostarla, qualcuno sa il motivo di questo malfunzionamento? Grazie

[@kermitr4845]

After the update on the actual release date…flawless!!!

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

Glad to hear. Just got my second one put out. Hopefully they will get some of the features that missed launch pushed out soon, though the only one I'm really hoping for is the ability to format the SD from the App.

[@creekriseoutdoors]

Good job on the Flex review. Have 10 Micro’s out and like them but will give the Flex a try.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

Thank you! If you don't want video or timelapse these cameras are better than the Micros IMO and worth the price.

[@vernmaas3609]

If you format card in flex will it work in micro

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

It will only be able to use 1GB of the card. The Flex creates 2 partitions when you format the card in the camera. It creates a 1GB partition and then a second partition with the rest of the card. In a Micro it'll only use the first partition which is the 1GB partition. BTW it does this to allow the camera to be able to take a photo and send a photo at the same time. Only the Flex can do this from the Spypoint products.

[@vernmaas3609]

@@huntingscienceexplained9825 Thanks a lot

[@jedidiah5131]

I want to use mine for security reasons and I was told that only the unlimited package offers instant notification??? Thanks for the video.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

You can set the camera to send on Each Detection. It doesn't matter which plan you have.

[@jedidiah5131]

@@huntingscienceexplained9825 Thanks for the reply to my question...

[@labguy303]

Did you get the camera for free from Spypoint or did you buy it on your own?

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I purchased it on my own. Just got my second one put out this afternoon. That's why this review actually was a review and not just an ad. 😆

[@labguy303]

That’s great. Thank you

[@TT-hi1qv]

Mine’s two hours away took hundreds of pics of nothing now it isn’t sending any pics at all ! I drove two hours to restart and reprogrammed it tested it it functioned fine then a day or two later it sent hundreds of nothing and shut off again! Not my first trailcam either ! The cam sucks in my opinion!

[@phrotojoe]

Brand new Flex camera and will not work on AT&T and Spypoint will not replace it.

[@fbodkin1]

Crap camera. Unless you are mounting it to a cell tower, be ready for multiple trips to the woods. It struggles to get a signal where the Spypoint Link Micros have 100% signal. Randomly stops communicating and long delays sending pictures.

[@redneckfarmer6584]

Daytime video is jittery but the nighttime ones aren't. Very strange.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I haven't had that issue. Interesting.

[@redneckfarmer6584]

@@huntingscienceexplained9825 next video you watch. Pay attention to the grass...trees...dirt and not the animals.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

@@redneckfarmer6584 it looks like it breaks the file up into like 3 second portions then compresses them. It looks like things are jumping around. Never noticed that.

[@chaselanham5]

they should of stuck with their original antennas. this type of antenna sucks severly..

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I've had full reception since I put it up. What sort of issues are you seeing with this type of antenna?

[@1youwatch]

The image quality is good, when it works. Needs more attention than your high school gf.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

🤣 So far for me I have run 14 Flex cameras. Only one has given me issues and it is fairly minor where it stops communicating after a month or two of being set to each detection.

[@Riley095]

Rip the flex it's already been proven to not work. Dead on arrival

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

What makes you say that? I have two that are working well. They are missing features that were promised but they are working as well as any of my other cameras.

[@jaimeastin]

@@huntingscienceexplained9825 spypoint still didn't the same thing... Release unfinished. Still buying from them though

[@Scott-ol9zs]

junk

[@danielpollard3969]

So the flex is a piece of garbage. They get you coming and going.

[@huntingscienceexplained9825]

I don't think it's a piece of garbage at all. So far the pictures being sent back are much better quality than the Micro. I have the Insiders Club which is 100USD a year and that gets me 250 pictures a month per camera as part of it. I have 20 cameras so that makes it a very cheap option for scouting spots deer move through. I use Spartans on food plots where I get more than 250 pictures a month and where features like live viewing and time lapse are needed. The video mode is really not well thought out from my perspective but other than that it is a good camera. The software bugs will be ironed out. I chalk those up to teething problems.

[@danielpollard3969]

@@huntingscienceexplained9825 ok I’ll give it a chance. I’m setting cameras up Saturday.I have a Yote problem and they are smart. Will not come to a call. I’m going to stake out a dead hog and see if they come to that. We’ll find out how it operates. Good luck this year brother. Your friend Dan from Jersey.Defending the 2nd.🗽🦅🇺🇸👍

[@randyweaver3456]

I bought five and all five are working flawlessly. Much better picture quality than the Link-S and Link-Dark and the trigger speed is very, very good; I've even caught crows in flight on two of mine. Should you buy one (or more), check the firmware status and update the firmware on your camera(s) in an area with good cell coverage before you deploy them.