To provide a cost-effective blade drive device for a camera that enables easy and reliable mounting of an aperture control plate and an intermediate plate on a base plate.

The aperture control plate 2 having an opening portion 2a for controlling an exposure opening has a plurality of holes fitted on blade mounting shafts 1f and 1g and the like on the base plate 1. Shutter blades 4 and 5 are pivotally mounted on the blade mounting shafts 1f and 1g between the aperture control plate 2 and a cover plate 3, with an output pin 6a integral with a rotor 6 inserted in slots 4a and 5a. As for the cover plate 3, edges of holes 3h-1 and 3i-1 formed in flexible bends 3h and 3i are engaged with engagement portions 1d and 1e of the base plate 1, in which state pairs of pressing portions 3h-2, 3h-3 and 3i-2, 3i-3 formed on the bends 3h and 3i respectively place pressure portions 2b to 2e of the aperture control plate 2 into close contact with the base plate 1.