I backed the indiegogo for the Lichee Pi Zero, and hopefully it will be arriving in the next month or so. If you haven't heard about it, it's basically an SD card sized, breadboardable Pi Zero clone. Here's some links:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/licheepi-zero-6-extensible-linux-module-on-finger-wifi-diy#/

https://liliputing.com/2017/03/lichee-pi-zero-tiny-linux-computer-module-6-crowdfunding.html

https://hackaday.io/project/20181-lichee-pi-zero

The form factor is perfect, and it already has support for the types of small cameras I would need to be running.

I'll start fleshing out this project more as I do the research and design