Counters measure different events
A field called ImageCount can count stored images, while another counter may include electronic exposures or a subset of mechanical cycles. Manufacturer formats evolve and some fields wrap or reset. Read the exact tag documentation for the exact model.
Use a broader inspection
Check the camera physically, test controls and autofocus, examine sample images, and ask for service records when making a purchase. A low number does not prove good treatment, and a high number does not establish immediate failure.
This tool deliberately does not divide a counter by a nominal shutter rating or present a remaining-life percentage. Those calculations would imply precision that the metadata does not support.
Compare like-for-like readings
When comparing two files, confirm they came from the same body and were decoded with the same tag interpretation. A later file with a smaller value deserves investigation: a different camera, another counter type, metadata modification or service history may explain it. Do not automatically label the seller dishonest or the camera defective from that one discrepancy.
A mechanical counter and an electronic-inclusive counter can legitimately differ. If both are present, retain both rows and their names. A field called ImageCount is not silently promoted to a mechanical actuation count, and the tool does not add different counters together into a made-up total.
Use the evidence in a practical inspection
Ask the owner for an original recent image and any relevant service paperwork. Test the actual functions you need: shutter modes, burst behavior, autofocus, card writing and physical controls. Photograph a simple subject in several exposure conditions and inspect the results. Those observations answer different questions from metadata. A counter can help frame a discussion about use, but it cannot certify authenticity, predict the date of failure or replace a technician’s inspection.