For a good compromise, use Meshtastic. Long-range radio mesh network for texting that phones can use instead of cell networks.

You'll need to make sure you encrypt your radios which might be illegal depending on your country.

One good thing about a phone over a camera is automatic backup. If you have a burner smartphone uploading all of your images to Dropbox (or whatever) as you take them, and then you think your phone is about to get taken, you can wipe it or even destroy it without losing the photos. Not so a camera.

Also, a cheap burner phone is way cheaper than pretty much any standalone camera on the market. It's hard to find a point and shoot digital camera (or any type of film camera) these days that isn't super pricey, because they've become hobbyist items.