Ansmann CR123A vs Firstcall PX28: Which Battery Do You Need?
By Firstcall Photographic | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Koopgidsen
Match the battery to the camera, not the other way round. Here is how the Ansmann CR123A and Firstcall PX28 differ, and which one your film camera or light meter actually takes.
Quick answer
Buy the Ansmann CR123A if your device is listed for a single 3V CR123A cell, and buy the Firstcall PX28 pack if it calls for a 6V PX28 or one of its equivalents such as 4SR44 or 4LR44. They are not interchangeable: one is a 3V cell and the other is a 6V pack, so the label inside the battery compartment decides it.
Why voltage, not brand, is the first decision
The Ansmann CR123A is a 3V alkaline cell, while the Firstcall PX28 is a 6V battery supplied as a pack of two. Fitting the wrong voltage is the most common reason a meter reads oddly or a camera simply does not power up, and no amount of brand loyalty fixes it.
Check the marking inside the compartment or in the manual before ordering. If it says CR123A, CR123, or 3V lithium/alkaline, you want the Ansmann. If it lists PX28, 4SR44, 4LR44, 476, or V28, you want the Firstcall.
The PX28 is really four cells in one shell
The Firstcall PX28 is equal to four 10L14 cells, which is why older film cameras and hand-held light meters often specify it. That stacked construction is what produces 6V from a single package, and it is also why the PX28 is not a drop-in substitute for a CR123A slot.
Because the PX28 replaces a long list of codes, it is the safer choice for vintage gear where the original battery name is obsolete. The CR123A, by contrast, is a current standard cell used across many electronic devices, so it is easy to find but only correct where 3V is specified.
What the catalogue does and does not tell you
The supplied records give voltage, chemistry, replacement codes, and typical uses, but they do not list compatible camera models beyond the Phenix range example or a capacity figure in mAh. Treat that as a decision limitation: confirm fit against your own camera's battery label rather than assuming a model list exists.
Neither product record lists available option types, so plan on buying the single pack size shown rather than choosing a quantity or charger bundle at checkout.
Decision rules for choosing between them
- Read the compartment label first: If it says CR123A, CR123, or 3V, choose the Ansmann CR123A. If it says PX28, 4SR44, 4LR44, 476, or V28, choose the Firstcall PX28. Ignore the brand on the old cell. Snap a photo of the label before you shop so you do not rely on memory.
- Vintage film camera or hand-held meter: Go with the Firstcall PX28 when the original code is obsolete or the manual lists a 6V battery. The four-cell construction matches what those meters were designed around.
- Modern accessory or device with a single cell slot: Choose the Ansmann CR123A only when the slot takes one 3V cell. Do not stack or adapt a PX28 into a CR123A compartment.
- When the label is missing or unreadable: Check the camera manual or the maker's specification before buying. With voltage and chemistry absent from the label, neither battery can be confirmed as correct. If you cannot confirm the voltage, do not guess; contact the store with your camera model.
Product facts at a glance
- Ansmann CR123A Battery: 3V alkaline cell for various electronic devices, from a specialist in mobile energy solutions. A current-standard 3V cell suits devices labelled CR123A, so check that voltage before ordering.
Ansmann CR123A Battery - Firstcall PX28 Battery - 6V Pack of 2: 6V PX28 supplied as a pack of two, replacing 28PX, 476, 4G13, 4SG13, 4SR44, 544, GP476, KS28, PX28, V28 and V28PXB, and equal to 4x 10L14. The long replacement list makes it the practical pick for older film cameras and hand-held meters whose original battery code is hard to source.
Firstcall PX28 Battery - 6V Pack of 2
Who each battery suits
Best for
- Film cameras and hand-held light meters that specify a 6V PX28 or its equivalents
- Devices with a single 3V CR123A slot that need a current-standard cell
Not for
- Cameras whose compartment calls for a different voltage or chemistry than either battery provides
- Buyers who need a rechargeable solution, since neither record lists rechargeable options
