MacOS – Yosemite Finder Column View Modified Timestamp

In Finder - View > Show View Options or Cmd ⌘ J

Uncheck "use relative dates"

I am also experiencing the same issue and here are my findings.

I am assuming the difference between file and EXIF dates are clear, otherwise ask google before reading my post.

I edited the dates of 3 raw image files (A, B, and C.CR2) as following:

• File creation date: Jan 1, 2016 - 3:00PM;
• File modification date: Jan 1, 2016 - 4:00PM;
• EXIF Date time original: Jan 1, 2016 - 5:00PM.

After editing the dates (see attached picture !):

• The top right Finder window containing the 3 files shows the edited file creation and modification dates under the "Date created" and "Date modified" columns;
• The top left Finder window displaying the search results (I wrote "cr2" in the search field) shows the "Date time original" EXIF timestamp (shooting date) under the "Date created" column and the "Date time digitized" EXIF timestamp under the "Date modified" column (cf. metadata in the Lightroom window). Note the "Date time digitized" EXIF timestamp under the "Date modified" column is the "File modification" date prior editing the dates.

The dates were edited with "A better Finder Attributes" app. Note that the result is the same if the dates are edited through terminal with the "touch" command.

Hence, I conclude the problem described in the OP is due to the fact the Spotlight search result displays the file EXIF dates, while a normal Finder window display the file creation and modification dates. I assume this is not a problem but an intentional behavior; however, this is clearly very misleading.

I hope my post fully explains the inconsitency reported in the OP.

(MacOS Sierra 10.12.1, A better Finder Attributes 5.37, Lightroom 6.6.1)