RIL has recently purchased a USB-powered mini-microscope to be used by the lab users and for the SEM lab teaching. An inexpensive microscope like this can take a decent image of your sample with a pixel resolution of 2MP (1920x1080) and it has a built-in LED light as well. Although probably not suitable for publication-quality imaging, it will be definitely useful for preliminary examination of your sample before proceeding to SEM analysis. The image shows Asian beetle's wing.
USB-powered microscope is small but powerful.