The A1 was discontinued in 97. It was quite similar to the current F1. Mt Shasta, across Emeryville, Berkeley, and Oakland, and generally used it for everything I could - urban and natural landscapes, still life stuff, architecture, etc., both colour and black and white. The film back is not rotatable, but is easily taken out and put back vertically or horizontally without much fuss.
Minimum extension is a function of lens rear element size when using the wide angle bellows.
Sinar provide a few pricey accesories like binocular reflex viewing hoods, etc, but third party accesories like the Calumet roll film back, filter holders, lens shades, etc. Bogen 3036 tripod and 3029 head. The rented items were from Gasser's in San Francisco. The A1 is light, strong, has adequate movements, is easy to use, and produces good results. I have only minor criticisms, all of which are covered in a later paragraph.