When do photo lenses beat cine glass for run-and-gun (despite breathing)?

Hey everyone,

I'm Liam, a Focus Puller, and I've been wrestling with a real-world scenario recently. On narrative sets with an ARRI or a RED and a good set of primes, the job is clear. But I just wrapped a doc with an a7S III where we were constantly moving, and my hands were full on the Tilta Nucleus Nano.

Now, the textbook always says cine lenses are king due to minimal breathing and precise focus rings. But lately, I've been considering how much easier (and lighter) some of these high-end photo lenses could make certain shoots, especially run-and-gun docs. I'm talking about things like a Sony GM 24-70mm vs. a cinema zoom.

My core question is this: In what specific real-world documentary or fast-paced, run-and-gun situations does the autofocus and lighter weight of a high-quality photo lens, despite its focus breathing, become the superior practical choice over traditional dedicated cine glass?