I should have been more clear. There was always camera functionality, but it was pretty dodgy back in the day, and would take absolute potato quality photos. I can't remember exactly what the issue was but there was a setting that would entirely prevent the camera from working, it isnt that is couldn't take photos.
By the time I stopped using GrapheneOS maybe 3 years ago or so the camera app was much improved and it is quite good.
GrapheneOS is an incredible project and I wasn't meaning to dump on it.