Review
Published:
Updated:
Author: John R. - Senior Editor & Wildlife Photography Expert
TL;DR
The Spypoint Flex G-36C is a budget-friendly cellular trail camera with a 36MP sensor and 1080p video, but its performance is disappointing. The painfully slow trigger speed misses most action, and excessive ghosting and compression ruin image quality. Software bugs cause unwanted photo uploads, quickly eating up the 100 free monthly pictures. While the Costco bundle offers good value and the camera is easy to set up, its flaws make it hard to recommend, even at its low price.
Intro
The SPYPOINT FLEX G-36C is a cellular trail camera with a 36-megapixel sensor. It captures 1080p video with audio.
The camera offers four operating modes: Photo, Video, Time-Lapse, and Time-Lapse+ (combining time-lapse and motion detection).
The FLEX G-36C uses LTE cellular networks for connectivity. It includes preactivated dual SIM cards for optimal carrier coverage.
The SPYPOINT app provides access to camera settings, including SD card formatting and capture mode configuration. Images and videos are transmitted directly to the app.
The camera has a 0.3-second trigger speed and a detection range of 100 feet. It uses infrared illumination for nighttime captures, with a flash range of 100 feet supported by four power LEDs.
Pictures and Videos can be stamped with date, time, moon phase, and temperature data.
The FLEX G-36C camera power options are:
- 8 AA batteries.
- A LIT-22 rechargeable lithium battery pack.
- An external 12V DC power source.
This trail camera model supports microSD cards up to 512GB, measures 5.14 x 4.2 x 3.1 inches, and uses a standard 1/4"-20 tripod mount.
SPYPOINT provides a two-year warranty for the FLEX G-36C. Optional accessories include solar panels and mounting arms.
Pros
- Reliable Cellular Connection
- Includes 100 Free Pictures with Activation
- Budget-Friendly Costco Bundle Option
- Compact and Lightweight Design
- Simple Setup for Basic Use Cases
Cons
- Slow Trigger Speed
- Ghosting in Video Images
- Limited Settings and Features
- Software Issues and Bugs
- Poorly Positioned Memory Card Slot
Camera Setup
The Spypoint Flex G-36C requires initial setup through the Spypoint app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices.
While the app simplifies setup by keeping options to a minimum, the tradeoff is limited functionality.
Users must create an account and manage any photo transmission plans separately through the Spypoint website, as these features are not integrated into the app.
This can add a layer of complexity, especially for first-time users expecting a seamless, all-in-one experience.
Formulating the memory card is the only setup step handled directly on the camera itself.
This is done by holding the designated Format button for three seconds after powering on the camera.
It's a straightforward process but doesn't compensate for other setup limitations.
Within the app, users can choose between photo or video mode.
Photo settings allow up to three pictures per trigger and offer a choice between Medium and High resolution.
However, video settings are notably sparse, and there's no way to adjust video length or resolution as it is automatically set to 15 seconds length and 1080p resolution.
This is a significant drawback for users looking to fine-tune their captures.
The date and time settings also leave room for improvement.
While users can select their preferred date and time format, there's no option to set the correct time zone.
In our tests, the camera displayed an inaccurate time, which could complicate tracking events.
Cellular setup provides options like sending frequency, turning off cellular functionality, and enabling the "Take Photo/Video at Next Sync" feature.
Unfortunately, this feature appears unreliable. Like last year's "Flex" model, the camera sent unwanted test photos even when this option was disabled.
Camera Ratings
Detection Range: 12/20
Speed: 2/10
Trigger speed is one of the most critical aspects of a trail camera's performance, and unfortunately, the Spypoint Flex G-36C falls short in this category.
The delay between motion detection and recording is significant, often resulting in missed opportunities.
Even moderately slow-moving animals, such as coyotes or deer, can exit the frame before the camera begins recording.
Capturing dynamic, action-filled shots becomes nearly impossible with such a delayed response.
In situations where wildlife is actively moving, like along trails or game paths, this sluggish trigger speed severely hampers the camera's ability to capture the action.
For users relying on the camera to monitor specific entry points or quickly moving animals, this could be a dealbreaker.
The trigger speed issue is less noticeable in settings where animals linger for extended periods, such as feeding areas or water sources.
However, for more versatile use cases, the slow trigger speed can leave gaps in documentation.
In testing, this delay consistently impacted the usefulness of the footage, as animals were often partially or fully out of the frame by the time recording started.
For a trail camera to be dependable, it must be ready the moment wildlife appears.
Unfortunately, the Spypoint Flex G-36C's slow trigger speed undermines its potential, making it better suited for stationary scenarios rather than dynamic wildlife tracking.
Accuracy: 6/10
Battery Life: 7/10
Daylight Images: 5/10
The Spypoint Flex G-36C performs decently in daylight conditions but struggles to deliver consistently sharp and detailed footage.
While the camera captures natural and fairly accurate colors, the overcompression of files introduces visible artifacts.
This compression softens textures and creates blocky patterns, particularly in areas with fine details like grass, foliage, or fur.
As a result, important elements in the frame often lose clarity, limiting the camera's utility for identifying finer details.
Ghosting remains a persistent issue during daylight, especially with moving animals.
The trailing effect creates a blurry outline, making it hard to distinguish finer features such as leg movement or head positioning.
This can be distracting and cause problems when assessing the animal's behavior or speed.
Mixed lighting conditions, such as scenes with both sunlight and shadow, reveal another limitation.
The camera struggles to balance exposure in high-contrast environments.
Shadowed areas often lose detail, while brighter spots appear overexposed.
This lack of dynamic range can make it challenging to identify animals moving through partially lit areas, like forests or snow-covered landscapes with patches of sunlight.
That said, the camera captures colors that feel true to life when lighting conditions are more even.
The warm browns of elk coats and the muted whites of snow appear natural and realistic, adding a level of authenticity to the footage.
Still, the compression and motion artifacts detract from what could otherwise be a strong daylight performer.
Lowlight Images: 4/10
Lowlight performance is a common challenge for trail cameras, and the Spypoint Flex G-36C highlights many of the typical limitations.
While the camera switches seamlessly to black-and-white mode in dim conditions, its ability to capture clear and detailed footage remains constrained by a combination of overcompression and motion-related ghosting.
One of the most noticeable issues in lowlight videos is ghosting.
Moving animals appear with a trailing effect, where their outlines blur or duplicate as they cross the frame.
This makes it difficult to distinguish specific movements or behaviors.
Stationary subjects are sharper but still lack fine detail due to heavy compression.
Compression artifacts create blocky, unnatural textures, particularly in areas with subtle gradients like fur, foliage, or the forest floor.
Exposure inconsistencies also come into play in mixed lowlight conditions.
Bright spots from remaining daylight or reflective surfaces tend to overexpose, while shadowed areas drop into near-black, obscuring smaller details or animals lurking in the background.
This limited dynamic range can make footage difficult to analyze, especially in forested settings with filtered light.
Despite these drawbacks, the monochrome images offer a good sense of contrast, making larger subjects easily identifiable.
However, these quality issues might be frustrating for those needing precise detail in lowlight scenarios, such as hunters or researchers.
Night Images: 4/10
Nighttime performance is a critical aspect of any trail camera, and the Spypoint Flex G-36C delivers mixed results.
The footage is recorded in monochrome black and white, which is standard for infrared imaging.
However, the 850nm infrared flash has a significant drawback since it visibly spooks some animals.
In multiple tests, wildlife visibly hesitated or fled the frame, making it harder to capture natural behaviors.
This could be a dealbreaker for users prioritizing stealth as the infrared is visible to human eyes.
The video quality itself reveals noticeable limitations.
Moving animals exhibit pronounced ghosting effects, where motion trails blur into the background.
Stationary objects fare better, with decent contrast, but fine details are often lost due to the heavy compression applied to the video files.
This compression also introduces blocky artifacts, further reducing the overall clarity.
In terms of exposure, the illuminated areas near the flash tend to overexpose, washing out detail in brighter regions.
Meanwhile, darker areas drop into near-black, losing definition entirely.
The narrow dynamic range in low light makes it challenging to pick out smaller animals or to see beyond the immediate foreground.
The monochrome tones do their job but lack nuance.
Textures such as fur or ground cover appear flat, with subtle gradations replaced by harsh contrast.
While adequate for identifying larger animals, the video quality may leave more detail-focused users disappointed.
Design: 8/20
The design of the Spypoint Flex G-36C shows a mix of practicality and missed opportunities.
Starting with the camo finish, the "C" in the model name signifies its camouflage design, which is intended to help the camera blend into natural environments.
However, the finish exhibits a noticeable blueish tint under certain lighting conditions, which can compromise its concealment.
For those needing true discretion, the non-camouflage version with a flat gray finish might actually perform better in maintaining a low profile.
The large and somewhat bulky antenna serves a functional purpose by ensuring strong cellular connectivity.
This tradeoff between size and performance is understandable for users prioritizing reliable image transmission over aesthetics.
The placement of key components is a mixed bag.
The battery tray, located at the bottom of the unit, allows for easy access and quick replacements.
However, the microSD card slot's positioning leaves much to be desired.
Situated at the very bottom of the camera, it becomes incredibly difficult to access once mounted.
To replace or insert a card, you'll often find yourself awkwardly maneuvering and fumbling beneath the camera, struggling to locate the poorly positioned slot.
Good luck locating the card in poor lighting or snowy conditions if it slips from your hands.
Security features are thoughtful but come with caveats.
The camera can be secured to a tree using a Python cable, but protecting the memory card and settings compartment requires a separate, larger padlock.
Verdict: 48/100
After thoroughly testing the Spypoint Flex G-36C, it's hard to overlook its significant flaws despite its budget-friendly appeal, particularly in the Costco bundle, which includes essentials like batteries, a memory card, and a mounting arm.
While this bundle offers good value on paper, the camera's performance issues make it difficult to recommend, even for cost-conscious users.
The most glaring issue is the extremely slow trigger speed.
This fundamental shortcoming undermines the camera's ability to capture critical moments, especially when animals are in motion.
Wildlife often moves out of frame before the camera even begins recording, which is unacceptable for a device designed to track and document behavior.
Whether you're monitoring game trails or simply trying to capture natural activity, this delay makes the camera feel unreliable in dynamic environments.
The excessive ghosting in both video and still images further detracts from its utility.
This artifact, coupled with the heavy compression applied to files, leaves images looking blurry and blocks out finer details.
The result is footage that may suffice for identifying larger animals but fails to deliver the clarity and precision needed for more detailed observations or assessments.
The 100 free monthly pictures that come with activation sound like a great deal but feel misleading in practice.
Even with the "Send Test Picture" option disabled, the camera still transmits unwanted images during tests.
Additionally, if you're using video mode, the camera sends three photos per video capture, quickly eating into the free limit.
In just 30 days, users in video mode could easily hit 90 transmissions, leaving little room for intentional captures.
We raised this issue with Spypoint last year, and while they provided temporary photo credits, the problem persists.
It's difficult not to suspect this might be a deliberate tactic to push users into paid subscription plans for photo transmissions.
While the camo design, compact size, and strong cellular connectivity show promise, these positives are overshadowed by software bugs, frustrating design flaws like the memory card placement, and underwhelming performance in key areas.
Ultimately, the Spypoint Flex G-36C feels like a product prioritizing flashy features and convenience over core functionality.
For users who need reliable performance in the field, this camera's shortcomings in trigger speed, image quality, and software reliability make it difficult to recommend.
Even for those on a tight budget, there are better options available that offer greater dependability and fewer frustrations.
Buying Options:
User Reviews
Specs
Official specs from the manufacturer.- Name:
- Spypoint Flex G-36C
- Manufacturer:
- Spypoint
- Model:
- Flex G-36C
- Model Year:
- 2023
- Series:
- Flex
- Flash Type:
- Low-Glow IR
- Max Pixels:
- 36
- Max Video:
- 1080p
- No. of Sensors:
- 1
- Detection Range:
- 100 ft
- Flash Range:
- 100 ft
- Field of View:
- 60 degrees
- Trigger Speed:
- 0.30 second
- Min Delay:
- 0 seconds
- Max Delay:
- 60 minutes
- Max Card Size:
- 512 GB
- Cellular/Mobile:
- Yes
- WiFi:
- No
- Bluetooth:
- No
- Live View:
- No
- MSRP:
- $99.99
- Warranty:
- 24 months
- Country of Origin:
- China
- UPC:
- 887157022273
- Buying Options: