The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is widely used in various fields of industry and science because it is one of the most versatile imaging and measurement instruments. SEMs allow users to see details 1,000 times smaller than a conventional microscope.
On the downside, images obtained by SEMs are two-dimensional and black and white (this is of course normal, as SEMs use electrons and not photons - or light rays - for visualization).