Is there something wrong with my 12-40?

[marting24]

I've begun to notice some seriously bad flare and weird light balls appearing in some of my images taken with my 12-40 and EM10?

This doesn't always happen but I am always nervous about shooting at night or around a lot of different light sources.

What do you guys think?

 

[Klorenzo]

Just a couple of random thoughts:

- are you using any filter?
- is the lens clean (front and back)?
- are you using a very small aperture in the second picture?
- did you use the hood in the third?

 

[marting24]

Just a couple of random thoughts:

- are you using any filter?
- is the lens clean (front and back)?
- are you using a very small aperture in the second picture?
- did you use the hood in the third?

-For the first and second image, no filter was used.
-I tend to clean my lens after every shoot but it may have had some finger prints in the second image.
-In the Second image, for what ever reason I was actually using f/13
-A polarizer was used for the third image, as well as a lens hood

Thanks for stopping by and helping me out by the way!