cliff said......

Or a high quality optical camera slow speed high density B&W film and a
bellows...

Alas no high quality optical system does not come even close to the 
resolution of the SEM.

OTOH, if you really need  the SEM capabilities, check out,,,,,


https://www.scienceexchange.com/services/sem

You can rent facilities starting at 65 bucks an hour, which to put in 
perspective is to my mind what it's gonna cost you in chemicals to develop 
that b&W film these days and get low res images (IF you got a darkroom set 
up!!!)

There's an SEM on the ebay for just over 1k$, but if you look closely, some 
of the  needed appurtenances start at 4.5k$

Bottom line, is if you want to use one, look at renting . I'm figuring you 
would have to need  dang near 100x need for an sem before you even came 
close to rationalizing cost of ownership......

And besides. with renting  you would be supporting an educational 
institution near you and maybe encompassing knowledgable researchers  and 
associated experts in you project

Now an SEM is an 'lectron burner" and while Leonard Lee showed the value of 
the instrument in his sharpening books, for me, my optical aids are 
absolutely old school, optivisors, binocular diseccting microscopes. 
jewelers loupes, and of course reading glasses (of various strengths) But 
this is a "hand tools" forum eh?

Used the optivisor, the loupe and strong reading glasses today rehabbing a 
tiny handsaw

I guess I am an ocular cripple, but I cannot avoid getting up close and 
personal with cutting edges, so I'll use all the  optical crutches I can 
afford!

Eric in Calgary