id like to point out to those without a clue, a vast portion of film production is done using sony sensors and carlos zeiss lenses, not just consumer products.
Sony consumer cameras are still very good of course, as are their prosumerand the sensors they provide to the miltitude of manufacturers in the mobile and tablet market.

Good to see them spending in areas where it matters, and not in chasing product lines that just cannot compete.

OK Peep's look at why:
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201411/14-112E/

3D stacked TSV's

Sample price:

2,100 yen

Or close to $18.00 /sensor in mass production it will of course drop further in price/sensor but look at which companies use the sensors in smart phones, you would be surprised who buy's them for the smart phone's they make.

Apple for One...lol

Hopefully it works out.

Most of Nikon's DSLRs use Sony sensors, that's not a huge market when compared with phones but I'd assume they are making money from it.

They've been making seriously good sensors in the last few years too.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/22/sony-stacked-cmos-investment/

so are you catching a trend here, a lil over 2.6 freaking years ago, Sony spent another billion, and to increase by another 20,000 its about a cool billion and about 2.5 years of R&D sure there are plenty of companies more than willing to line up and challenge that market investment/s

If I'm not mistaken, cameras are Sony's biggest specialty next to gaming. Like they've always tough competition in TV and phones, but Sony cameras are second to none by a huge margin. Hence, why even Samsung and Apple phones use Sony cameras in their products.

Yeah pretty much this.  Cameras and game consoles and software are the two markets sony dominates. 

Its mainly in part due to the investment into 3D stacking TSV that Sony has invested into..they were @13MP, now they are soon to be over 24MP pretty soon in R&D past these new 21MP's.

Don't understand the can only make a ton of money or flop argument. makes no sense. If they maybe just break even it is still not good because the opportunity cost they will have incurred. Personally I think it will be a moderate success, I think it turns a tidy profit but doupt it becomes a run away success.

Wow that is a lot of output per month from a FAB. Good going Sony.