In a slit exposure shutter having leading and trailing blades driven to run down to make an exposure and to return to their initial positions by an electromagnetic drive source, this source is provided with electromagnetically operated latch means for holding the leading and trailing blades in either one of the terminal ends of running down and returning movement thereof. Another feature is that the above-described latch means is constructed by utilizing the magnetic attraction force of at least one of the stationary and movable electromagnetic members of the drive source.