the invention relates to a method for inspecting cigarette heads , where light radiates in at least two strip - like portions , which are incident from different directions , onto the end area of a cigarette head and light reflected from the end area is received by a detector and evaluated . known methods of this type have the disadvantage that they are inaccurate and do not allow exact statements to be made about the state of cigarettes . therefore , the invention is based on the problem of improving the inspection of cigarettes . this problem is solved by virtue of the fact that , in the course of evaluation , a distance between two lines which are produced from a signal generated by the detector and correspond to the strip - shaped portions is determined in order to establish the position of that region of the cigarette head which is irradiated by the portions . furthermore , the invention relates to a corresponding apparatus .