Macro options for my A6300 in Meikon housing

I have the Meikon housing for my Sony A6300. It is quite shallow, so only fits compact lenses like the 16-50 kit lens. I'm looking to take macro pictures, but the only lens that might fit the housing is the Sony E 30mm Macro. As I want to take 1/1 closeups (ideally 2:1 if possible) it's not usable.

If I stick to the 16-50 lens, is my best option a Macro wet lens on front of the Meikon housing (it's 67mm)? If so, which brands and models are recommended, for sharp, non-distorted pictures, if I want 1/1 magnification using the 50mm zoom at maybe 10-20cm? Ideally I'd like it to work well as a flip lens, and cost around $200.

The Nauticam port charts show the CMC-1 which is about +12 to +15 diopter will give you 0.9x at a working distance of 46mm.  It will only focus between 46 and 74mm from the subject.  46mm is probably a little tight to light easily but it can be done.  You don't necessarily need the Nauticam CMC lens but you will want one around the same power, which might include the INON UCL-67  among other lenses.

As for flip adapters most lenses work with them but it depends on the exact combination of adapter, lens and port as to whether it works well.  It needs to get the rear element of the lens very close to the port glass.

The Sony will get 1:1 but that is achieved with very short working distance almost on the port glass, so you might get half life size and even then working in quite close.

As for cost the UCL-67 is $US325 in USA, you might be able to find cheaper diopters but they may not meet your sharpness criteria.  If you can accept less magnification with a +10 diopter there are quite a few just over $US200 which might be OK.  Finding sample posts can be difficult and mostly restricted to popular models like the INON and Nauticam.

I'm assuming you're talking about the old, fixed-port Meikon housing that only fits the A6300 camera. I use the SeaFrogs Salted Line housing with my A6300, so I have access to interchangeable ports and use Canon EF-S 60mm and Sony 90mm G lenses for macro. However, I also have a Weefine WFL05S close-up lens for supermacro work with the Sony 90mm, and I have briefly tried it with 16-50mm kit lens and short macro port, which is basically the same setup as you have on your housing. This is what I was able to get when zoomed all the way in on a crinoid:

Eyeballing it, I'd say it's about 0.5x magnification, maybe 0.8x. Note that using a diopter as strong as this also restricts your maximum focus distance, so you really can't focus on anything further than a few centimeters away from the front glass. If you want 2:1 supermacro, you really need the interchangeable port housing ($347), macro port ($99), Sony 90mm lens ($1098), diopter in the +10~15 range ($350 for the one I use) and preferably a flip or magnetic adapter (I use magnetic rings, $50 or so for a set). This will give you a maximum magnification of around 2.3x - this is a test shot of a ruler with bare port and 90mm lens:

This is the same ruler with WFL05S added:

And this is an actual in-field sample of a clownfish egg patch:

Zoomed out shot of the same patch for reference:

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. It's given me some options to consider. The Inon looks like it's closest to my price range. I'll probably try that one first with a flip adaptor.

On 3/14/2022 at 1:52 AM, Barmaglot said:

...and use Canon EF-S 60mm...

 

Barmaglot, do you use this in the Short, Medium(for Zeiss 50 Macro) or Long Salted Line Macro Port, or some other? How does it perform with your Close-up Lens, and lastly what adapter do you use? It seems like a viable alternate to the Sony 90mm having a bit more breathing room. Thanks for any thoughts.

15 hours ago, polyroly said:

Barmaglot, do you use this in the Short, Medium(for Zeiss 50 Macro) or Long Salted Line Macro Port, or some other? How does it perform with your Close-up Lens, and lastly what adapter do you use? It seems like a viable alternate to the Sony 90mm having a bit more breathing room. Thanks for any thoughts.

I use the long macro port, same as for 90mm. I haven't tried close-up adapters with the 60mm; there is substantial empty space between lens front element and port glass, so I don't see them working well - when I expect needing a close-up adapter, I bring the 90mm. As for adapter, I use a Metabones IV.

Very helpful to a beginner in this class of camera. Many thanks. So much to learn!

19 minutes ago, Barmaglot said:

I use ...