A focal plane shutter has at least one shutter blade group comprised of a leading blade and a set of trailing blades. A first parallel link mechanism is pivotally connected at two spaced locations to the leading blade to effect displacement of the leading blade relative to a shutter opening. A second parallel link mechanism is pivotally connected at two or more spaced locations to the set of trailing blades to effect displacement of the trailing blades relative to the shutter opening. The distance between the two pivotal connections of the first parallel link mechanism is greater than the distance between the at least two pivotal connections of the second parallel link mechanism.