Night Photos - Highlights 'smearing' with Nex 7?

[mrtoml]

Has anyone else noticed this? I sometimes get strange smeared highlights especially with night shots. At first I thought it was the lens, but it has happened with the kit lens and the 50mm Sony. I really like this camera in general, but this is annoying.

Examples:

 

[willie_901]

The last ( star) image makes me doubt the problem is primarily sensor bloom as the center star is artifact free.

So

The problem may be due using a lens filter or rather dirty lens elements.

Anyway, the Fuji X100 does something like this and it's the lens. Maybe those lenses are prone to flare from bright point source lights.

It's possible, but unlikely, your sesnor needs a good cleaning. My local shop does this for $60.

 

[gavinlg]

It's reflections from the lens on the sensor. Not really anything you can do about it. Take off a filter if you have one on, it could be exacerbating it.

 

[mrtoml]

Thanks for the replies. I thought about the filter (there is a UV one on the kit lens used in the 1st and 3rd shots), but the 2nd shot with the 50mm is without a filter. The camera is almost new so I doubt that it is a dirty sensor. The 50mm lens is also new and spotlessly clean.

I've been using digital cameras for years and never seen this before so I was curious.

 

[mwooten]

For what it is worth, I've seen the same cyan smears with my RD1 & cv 28.