What Number Should I Ask for to Get These Types of Haircuts?

I always have an idea every time I go to the barbershop. Like short Ivy league type of haircut, really, really short on the sides and back and a little longer on top, but still quite short. I always guess the numbers, usually 1 for around the ears and at the bottom of the back of my head, then 2 for the rest of the sides and back, then either 4 or 5 for the top….except it always seems to turn out looking more like a buzz cut than anything.
Here are a few photo examples of what I would want:

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee136/suwarnaadi/ChrisEvansShortHairstyles1.jpg

http://menshair.about.com/od/picturegalleries/ig/Short-Styles/short3.htm

http://menshair.about.com/od/picturegalleries/ig/Short-Styles/short5.htm

http://menshair.about.com/od/picturegalleries/ig/Short-Styles/short5.htm

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__rztMJjnNlg/SgSlca0WC-I/AAAAAAAAC90/y-HdxBN22yA/s400/mens-short-hair-cut-03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://top-hairstyle.com/mens-short-haircut/&usg=__AhbmGOQOiuNsEUP3OPziOVsitRY=&h=400&w=320&sz=22&hl=en&start=47&tbnid=4QBzmZG0aiRoCM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshort%2Bivy%2Bleague%2Bhaircut%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D619%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C895&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1038&vpy=200&dur=788&hovh=251&hovw=201&tx=153&ty=163&ei=WcZpTIqrPMOBlAfb6MWeBQ&oei=D8ZpTOjiHoL_8Abjp8ytBA&esq=16&page=3&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:47&biw=1280&bih=619

Suggestion:

The reason it looks like a buzz is because the haircut you are describing is a butch, 1/4" on the back and sides with 1/2" or 5/8" on top. An ivy league is usually around 1.5" at the front hairline and graduates to about 5/8" at the back of the crown. The back and sides can be tapered down as close as desired. Your first photo is a crew cut. The hair at the center of the front hairline is about 1.3" in length and graduates shorter in length to about 1/2" or 3/8" at the back of the crown. Sides taper down to about 1/4" around the ear arches. Your second photo could be called an ivy league or crew cut. It is about 1.5" at the front hairline and graduates to about 1/2" at the back of the crown but it is not an even graduation. It looks like the top was cut to a certain point with a guarded clipper and then the area near the front hairline was cut shears over comb instead of the entire top being cut shears over comb. The third is a butch regardless that the website it is on claims it is an ivy league. Clearly the entire top is cut at 1/2" or 5/8". Your last photo is a sort of crew cut or short ivy league. The hair at the center of the front hairline is about 1" in length. The sides are kind of long for an ivy league or crew cut. The way to get any of these styles is to bring a photo to the barber and let him decide how to achieve the style instead of telling him to use a certain guard. A good barber does not typically use guards but cuts clipper over comb, shears over comb or freehand with a clipper. The following might help you to better understand the basic short styles
crew cut:

http://i.imagehost.org/0568/standardcrewcutfkhs61la.jpg

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/e490abf8cfcc81c7_large

flat top crew cut:

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/46f88d11c448c453_large

ivy league(long crew cut):

http://h.imagehost.org/0168/Kid_with_a_Coke_Zero_Large.jpg

Some barbers describe an ivy league as a crew cut just long enough to be parted and combed to the side, if so desired. An ivy league can also be worn with the hair brushed up off the forehead to form a short pomp front, or with the short bangs brushed down on the forehead like a forward brush cut.
long ivy league:

http://j.imagehost.org/0212/ivyleaguechristianbelz3apq8gb0fk0.jpg

Basic short cuts:

http://i.imagehost.org/0254/fpssb1321332m803fef7jc6.jpg

http://i.imagehost.org/0809/fpssb1341352m1aef5e4mt9.jpg

http://i.imagehost.org/0627/70735ed866cf5qa3.jpg

http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/02_04/old_yale.html

Essential barbering knowledge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Crew_cut#Clippers.2C_Blades_and_Guards

Grooming any of the short pomp(pompadour) styles- crew cut, ivy league, flat top crew cut- is basically the same and takes about a minute or two.
1) Towel dry hair.
2) Barely dip fingertips in jar of wax.
3)Transfer wax to palms.
4) Smooth palms over hair.
5)Brush hair off forehead to form short pomp front.
Whichever style you decide on, be sure to take a photo to help describe the desired haircut to the barber. If you need more photos of any of the styles discussed above let me know.
Good Luck!