Converting from old US f-stops?

[Ari]

I have been trying to find equivalents for the old US (Uniform System) f-stops on my Protar.

Here is what they look like:

P1010932-2 by Ari4000, on Flickr

Is there a method to determine the equivalent in modern f-stops?
For example, to my eye, f256 on the lens makes a similar-size aperture as f45 on a modern lens.

I have seen a few charts here and there, but they are quite old and make little sense to me.

Any help is appreciated.

[Mark Sawyer]

16 is the same in U.S. or f/stops. Then U.S. stops halve or double every stop, while f/stops halve or double every other stop.

U.S = F/stop
1 = 4
2 = 5.6
4 = 8
8 = 11
16 = 16
32 = 22
64 = 32
128 = 45
256 = 64

[Ari]

Thank you, Mark; that explains the over-exposed film.

[Jerry Bodine]

Lacking the benefit of Mark's conversions, the f-stop values can be approximated by dividing the focal length by the diameter of the aperture (as measured when looking into the front element). I believe this is true for any lens design, but if not I'm sure someone will correct me.

[jcoldslabs]

I just remember that US16 = f/16 and then count up or down in whole stops from there.

Jonathan

[Mark Sawyer]

The formulas are simple: The f/stop system is based on the only two factors that determine the intensity of light hitting the film in any given lighting situation: how big the lens aperture is and how far it is from the film. For f/stops, f/16 means the aperture is 1/16th of the focal length, f/4 means the aperture is 1/4th the focal length, f/64 means the aperture is 1/64th the focal length.

The Uniform System was based on exposure times. If you needed 4 seconds of exposure at US 4, you'd need 16 seconds at US 16, 64 seconds at US 64, 256 seconds at US 256, and so on. Of course, the exposure was seldom so simple; when the exposure needed was 1/8 second at US 4, it was easier to ignore the numbers and just double or halve exposure times as you counted off stops, (which is what most people still do in the f/stop system).

[AtlantaTerry]

f/stops halve or double every other stop

I disagree, f/stops change by half or double with every stop.

If I change the aperture from f/5.6 to f/8, I have cut the light in half.
If I change the aperture from f/5.6 to f/4, I have doubled the amount of light.

If this were not true then shutter speed changes (also half or double) would not work to balance out the exposure.

[Mark Sawyer]

f/stops halve or double every other stop

I disagree.

f/stops change by half or double with every stop...

Excuse me, I should have said "the f/stop numbers halve or double every other stop."

You can't get away with anything on this forum!

[Ari]

The formulas are simple: The f/stop system is based on the only two factors that determine the intensity of light hitting the film in any given lighting situation: how big the lens aperture is and how far it is from the film. For f/stops, f/16 means the aperture is 1/16th of the focal length, f/4 means the aperture is 1/4th the focal length, f/64 means the aperture is 1/64th the focal length.

I get 12 focal lengths out of this lens; does that complicate things?

[Bill Burk]

I just remember that US16 = f/16 and then count up or down in whole stops from there.

Jonathan

I'd never known about this "Uniform System" until this weekend, when I was reading this archive...

https://archive.org/stream/secretofe...ge/44/mode/2up

I noticed U.S.16. is f/16 too...