sift = cv2.xfeatures2d.SIFT_create() not working even though have contrib installed

Question

So I am trying to use:

sift = cv2.xfeatures2d.SIFT_create() 

and it is coming up with this error:

cv2.error: OpenCV(3.4.3) C:\projects\opencv-python\opencv_contrib\modules\xfeatures2d\src\sift.cpp:1207: error: (-213:The function/feature is not implemented)  This algorithm is patented and is excluded in this configuration; Set OPENCV_ENABLE_NONFREE CMake  option and rebuild the library in function 'cv::xfeatures2d::SIFT::create' 

I am using Python 3.5.0 and opencv(3.4.3) and I am just using idle. This occured after I tried to install TensorFlow and I have tried looking around and have installed opencv-contrib-python but I am still getting the same error. Thank you in advance and I apologise if I have not included enough info

Answer 1

I had the same problem. It seems that SIRF and SURF are no longer available in opencv > 3.4.2.16. I chose an older opencv-python and opencv-contrib-python versions and solved this problem. Here is the history version about opencv-python, and I use the following code :

pip install opencv-python==3.4.2.16 pip install opencv-contrib-python==3.4.2.16 

Edit

For Anaconda User just this instead of pip

conda install -c menpo opencv 

this will install cv2 3.4.1 and everything you need to run SIFT

good luck~