Disclosed is a shutter apparatus for small cameras. According to the first embodiment of the invention, a shutter housing is mounted in an exposure aperture formed in a main body. The shutter housing has a through-hole communicated with the exposure aperture. A shutter panel is pivotably mounted inside the shutter housing so as to open and close the through-hole. A pivot lever is rotatably installed inside the shutter housing and engaged with the shutter panel such that the shutter panel is pivoted to open and close the through-hole. Thus, the opening is opened only when the camera is used totake a picture, and otherwise the opening is closed, thereby efficiently preventing introduction of foreign matters into the inside of the camera.