How do I use SIFT in OpenCV 3.0 with c++?

Question

I have OpenCV 3.0, and I have compiled & installed it with the opencv_contrib module so that's not a problem. Unfortunately the examples from previous versions do not work with the current one, and so although this question has already been asked more than once I would like a more current example that I can actually work with. Even the official examples don't work in this version (feature detection works but not other feature examples) and they use SURF anyway.

So, how do I use OpenCV SIFT on C++? I want to grab the keypoints in two images and match them, similar to this example, but even just getting the points and descriptors would be enough help. Help!

Answer 1

1. get the opencv_contrib repo
2. take your time with the readme there, add it to your main opencv cmake settings
3. rerun cmake /make / install in the main opencv repo

then:

   #include "opencv2/xfeatures2d.hpp"

  // 
  // now, you can no more create an instance on the 'stack', like in the tutorial
  // (yea, noticed for a fix/pr).
  // you will have to use cv::Ptr all the way down:
  //
  cv::Ptr<Feature2D> f2d = xfeatures2d::SIFT::create();
  //cv::Ptr<Feature2D> f2d = xfeatures2d::SURF::create();
  //cv::Ptr<Feature2D> f2d = ORB::create();
  // you get the picture, i hope..

  //-- Step 1: Detect the keypoints:
  std::vector<KeyPoint> keypoints_1, keypoints_2;    
  f2d->detect( img_1, keypoints_1 );
  f2d->detect( img_2, keypoints_2 );

  //-- Step 2: Calculate descriptors (feature vectors)    
  Mat descriptors_1, descriptors_2;    
  f2d->compute( img_1, keypoints_1, descriptors_1 );
  f2d->compute( img_2, keypoints_2, descriptors_2 );

  //-- Step 3: Matching descriptor vectors using BFMatcher :
  BFMatcher matcher;
  std::vector< DMatch > matches;
  matcher.match( descriptors_1, descriptors_2, matches );

also, don't forget to link opencv_xfeatures2d !