I use my smartphone with a sim for taking pictures and storing info from computer no voice or data plan can I take out the sim card and will the phone work like if you just wanted to use it as a calculator?No, I use smartphones without the SIM installed. Of course, you can not use it as a phone. But your can use it as:
A flashlight
A clock
A calendar
Now if Wi-Fi is working you can:
Surf most web sites.
Check your e-mail
Get the weather
But if you want a SIM, you can get one for $1 from:
https://www.freedompop.com/
I DO NOT endorse this company. I had to order twice to get one.
But if it works, you have some free calling some of the time. Sort of.

EDIT: A few phones do not use SIM.Yes, I use my OLD smart phone as an alarm clock, camera, mp3 player and wifi webcam. No SIM installed. It can plug into a computer by USB and transfer pictures and music back and forth.
An old phone can also be used for GPS navigation as long as you use an app that doesn't rely on cellular to download map data (such as GOOGLE maps). An app such as CoPilot stores all of its map data locally on the phone and doesn't require a data connection to work.Can also use it for an "Address Book".Or voice recorder, or FM radio, or camera, or compass if it has a magnetometer sensor.So yes, you can do things without a SIM card.
But why not just get a new SIM card?
Unless the phone was lost or stolen, you can put a new SIM card inside.
From an advertisement...
Quote

If you already have an unlocked GSM phone, this Ting GSM SIM card is all you need to get started with Ting. What's more, because the Ting GSM SIM Card is die CUT to fit every common SIM card format from full-sized to the super miniature nano SIM, it will fit your device's SIM card slot without you needing to break out the ruler and scissors. ...

"But why not just get a new SIM card?
Unless the phone..."

Because there are more new uses that can be fleshed out of phones these DAYS, instead of only using it for "phone". I use mine for internet sometimes, but I still prefer a computer. Also, I like Salmon Trout's ideaof using it to play MP3s.