An imaging apparatus include a lens, a first blade slidable between a covering position where the first blade covers the front side of the lens and a retract position where the first blade retracts from the front side of the lens, and a second blade pivotally supported by the first blade, the second blade moving along with the first blade between the covering position and the retract position in response to the slide motion of the first blade, the second blade rotating relative to the first blade in such a way that the second blade more largely overlaps with the first blade in the retract position than in the covering position.