Okay the orbs are just the 50's flare problem. But still. <img src="http://www.themeparkphotos.us/g/g2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=22798" />
I'm curious....did you have a UV filter on? I found that even with the expensive multicoated ones, I still get flares on my 50 and 30, and hence, I've taken them off entirely. I do not, however, have the problem you show above with my 18-200. Just curious!
Yes, I did have a filter on the 50, and no, I didn't notice any flare problem with the 18-200. And it had a filter as well.